Panthers select Vladislav Kolyachonok with 52nd overall pick
The Florida Panthers drafted defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok with the 52nd overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft.
Vladislav Kolyachonok
Position: Defense
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 187 lbs
Age: 18
Club: Flint Firebirds (OHL)
Nationality: Belarussian
| GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | 4 | 25 | 29 |
(Stats courtesy: Eliteprospects.com)
Kolyachonok entered the draft as the 31st-ranked North American skater, per NHL Central Scouting. He's a smooth-skating blue-liner with good hockey sense and strong fundamentals, but likely isn't a player who will produce high-level offensive numbers.
The 18-year-old doesn't project to be an immediate NHLer but the Panthers added a solid prospect to their pipeline.
What they're saying
"Kolyachonok is a very smart and mobile defenseman who can transition the puck well. He’s not a guy who is going to wow you with his skill level, but he sees the ice quite well, with the ability to run a power play and hit seams. He’s a good skater who showed he could skate with the quicker forwards in the OHL and kill plays with his feet," The Athletic's Corey Pronman said.