The Scouting Report:
Igor Chernyshov is an 18-year-old left-wing prospect who was born in Penza, Russia on November 30, 2005. He has played in the KHL for parts of the past two years with the HC Dynamo Moscow. He split time between the KHL and the MHL (Russia’s minor-league system). Chernyshov will almost surely be drafted in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft, probably at pick #20 or above as he is eligible for the first time. He should go in the top 15, but with Russian stars, there is always a question mark about them leaving the KHL, so some teams may pass on him with a high pick. He still has one more year left with HC Dynamo Moscow.
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Draft Projections
Ranked #16 by Inside The Rink
Ranked #9 by NHL Central Scouting (International Skaters)
Ranked #18 by TSN/Craig Button
Ranked #20 by Sportsnet
Ranked #10 by Dobberprospects
Conrad Jack of Inside The Rink has Igor Chernyshov projected at 16th overall
I’ve highlighted some of Igor Chernyshov’s attributes, let’s take a deeper dive into his attributes and areas for improvement.
Diving Deeper:
Chernyshov isn’t known for scoring, but he has been very physical going up against grown men. He’s got good size but still needs to grow into it and harness his true power. At 6’2” and 196 pounds, he’s already got a solid build with time left to get even bigger. Chernyshov has great potential to be a power forward. While his stats from the KHL aren’t extraordinary, his stats from the MHL are great. Chernyshov put up 28 points (13 goals-15 assists) in 22 games. The year before, was a point-per-game player, with 38 points in 38 games. With 18 goals and 20 assists during the 2022-23 season, he showed an ability to both score goals and drive plays.
Strong Skating With the Ability to Push
Chernyshov has strong skating skills, including great edgework. Paired with his good size, it’s no surprise that he can push the play through the neutral zone and break into the offensive end of the ice. Paired with his high hockey IQ, Chernyshov can take advantage of an open lane, no matter how briefly it remains open.
He is an above-average skater with good size, and this makes him an effective straight-line attacker in transition. While many of his transition routes are rather simple, he does not hesitate to put his shoulder down and drive to the net, creating scoring chances for himself on the rush regularly against MHL competition.
Graham Montgomery, Dobber Prospects
Naturally Plays Power Forward Game
A true power forward care is always a valuable pickup. Even at his young age and as he’s still maturing physically, Chernyshov is playing as a power forward. He drives to the net, both with and without the puck. He isn’t afraid of the defensive part of the game, using his quick skating to keep up with opponents. And his quick release can keep the defenseman guessing. He truly has the potential to dominate at both ends of the ice.
Even in the KHL, Chernyshov does not look out of place. You can still see that athletic combination at work and, even though he may be a step behind at times, he looks competitive. As he matures, I fully expect Chernyshov to become a true powerhouse of a forward who’s capable of playing difficult minutes and producing.
Jake Janso, FC Hockey
On-Ice Abilities:
Chernyshov isn’t known for scoring, but he has been very physical going up against grown men. He’s got good size but still needs to grow into it and harness his true power. At 6’2” and 196 pounds, he’s already got a solid build with time left to get even bigger. Chernyshov has great potential to be a power forward. While his stats from the KHL aren’t extraordinary, his stats from the MHL are great. Chernyshov put up 28 points (13 goals-15 assists) in 22 games. The year before, he was a point-per-game player, with 38 points in 38 games. With 18 goals and 20 assists during the 2022-23 season, he showed an ability to both score goals and drive plays.
Prospect Potential:
Chernyshov seems like he will develop to be a top-six power forward. He will still need some time to develop, either in the KHL, the AHL, or a combination of both. Currently, he’s excelled on a minor-league team but needs some time to figure out how to translate his skills to a higher league like the KHL.
Best Potential Fit:
“The Russian Factor” may force some teams to look past him. Dealing with a player in the KHL takes a lot of time, communication, and patience. In the past handful of years, there are several teams that have successfully brought good Russian players over to North America. Whichever team takes Chernyshov shouldn’t expect him to leave Russia anytime soon. At only 18 years old, he will most likely sign an extension in the KHL after this season.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, Chernyshov is one of the more well-rounded prospects in the 2024 NHL Draft. He’s already a good size, but it doesn’t slow him down or disrupt his stick-handling. While he still needs some more time to develop, his potential as a top-six power forward is clear.
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