Flames draft Ilya Nikolaev 88th overall
The Calgary Flames drafted Ilya Nikolaev 88th overall at the 2019 NHL Draft.
Ilya Nikolaev
Position: Center
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 190 lbs
Age 17
Club: Yaroslavl2 (Russia-Jr.)
Nationality: Russian
| GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | 10 | 15 | 25 |
(Stats Courtesy: Eliteprospects.com)
Nikolaev is a well-rounded center who has offensive skills to match sound play away from the puck. He projects to be a few years away from becoming an NHLer, but a few more developmental years to polish his game could wind up paying major dividends for the Flames.
What they're saying
"With the puck, he’s a highly skilled playmaker. He can make plays through defenders and is creative in how he tries to create chances. He moves the puck well and shows a high-level understanding of the game. Nikolaev might only have average size, but he competes hard, has an edge to his game, and can project to kill penalties as a pro," The Athletic's Corey Pronman said.