2024 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Matvei Shuravin

Photo via McKeen's Hockey

The Scouting Report:

Matvei Shuravin is an 18-year-old native of Moscow, Russia. He is under contract to play his third season with Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (Red Army). This Russian junior ice hockey club plays in the Western Conference of the Junior Hockey League (MHL). He is a left-shot defenseman who stands 6’4″ and 198 lbs. He played 11 games for CSKA Moskva in the KHL during the 2023-24 season, recording two assists, a plus-five, and two penalty minutes.

View All 2024 NHL Draft Profiles Here

Draft Projections

Ranked #40 by Inside the Rink/Conrad Jack
Ranked #50 by NHL Central Scouting (EU Skaters)
Ranked #37 by TSN/Craig Button
Ranked #52 by THN/Ferrari
Ranked #50 by Daily Faceoff
Ranked #60 by DobberProspects

I’ve highlighted some of Matvei Shuravin’s attributes; let’s explore his strengths and areas for improvement.  

Diving Deeper:

Shuravin is a defensive defenseman who has been compared to Vladislav Fetisov, a Hockey Hall of Famer and former New Jersey Devil and Detroit Red Wing, Vladislav. At 18 years old and 6’4″, he is expected to grow in height and put on size, making him a formidable defenseman. Along with his size, his skating is a highlight. He has quick feet, solid edge work, and long strides that allow him to quickly close gaps, disrupt passes, and shut down the opponent’s offense. He played at three different levels this past season, which has made projecting his value more difficult.

Defensive Zone Play:

Shuravin’s skills are highlighted in the defensive zone. His hockey IQ allows him to recognize offensive strategies. This will enable him to use his size, skating ability, and ability to anticipate plays to move to the correct position to restrict passing and scoring chances and to maintain tight coverage on opposing players.

Zone-play is the bread and butter for this left-shot defensemen. Shuravin displays some quality defensive instincts, positioning, and habits. Shuravin shows a high compete level as he is relentless on opponents, chasing them when he needs to or being a defensive stalwart with stick checks, opponent tie-ups, and maintaining favorable defensive body leverage. All this points to good defensive awareness and hockey IQ.

Tyler Rohleder, The Win Column

Skating

Shuravin has great agility, which is shown in his edgework. He can quickly pivot and change direction. His efficient stride allows him to maintain his speed and agility without tiring.

Despite his imposing stature, Shuravin moves with astonishing grace and efficiency. His long, powerful strides generate tremendous speed and momentum, enabling him to cover distances in a short amount of time. Whether he’s chasing down opponents on the backcheck or leading the rush up the ice, Shuravin’s skating mechanics are a sight to behold.

Steven Graves, McKeen’s Hockey

Areas of Improvement:

Offensive Play:

Shuravin’s shot lacks velocity and power, which reduces his offensive effectiveness when shooting from the point. His offensive play can be predictable, as he has a slow release on his shots and poor shot selection. He also lacks creativity and vision in the offensive zone, which makes him easier to defend against.

Prospect Potential:

Shuravin should develop into a top-six defender. To solidify his position in the lineup, he needs to develop several aspects of his offensive play, including his shot, creativity, and ability to move the puck in the zone.

Best Potential Fit:

The Athletic has Shuravin drafted by the Washington Capitals with the 52nd pick. This is an interesting projection as the Capitals have two years remaining on Alex Ovechkin’s contract, in which they will surround him with a team to win the Stanley Cup and adding an 18-year-old may not be the best use of their second-round pick.

Final Thoughts:

Matvei Shuravin has the makings of a solid defenseman in the NHL. At 18, however, he must develop his game to crack the lineup. His injury-shortened season limited his playing time in the KHL, but if he can have a healthy season next year, then he could demonstrate his ability to play with older, more veteran players.  

Stats via Elite Prospects

ITR 32: The Final Countdown Inside The Rink

Join Chris and Conrad as they discuss everything in the world of hockey, including the Washington Capitals making two significant contract signings and the NHL Salary Cap to keep rising. John Tortorella is out of Philly, Eastern & Western Conference Roundups & More.
  1. ITR 32: The Final Countdown
  2. ITR 31: Let Them Fight
  3. ITR 30: Down The Stretch
  4. ITR 29: Trade Deadline Review
  5. ITR 28: Deadline Week

Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

James Slemp

I write for and photograph the Florida Everblades for ITR. I am a retiree that has turned my hobby of photography into a business. I currently live in Sarasota, Florida with my wife, Christy, but I'm originally from California. My previous career has taken me all over the US and the world and I definitely enjoy traveling. I've played hockey for over 30 years, learning as an adult, and love the game.

Leave a Reply

Wyatt Johnston celebrating a goal for the Dallas Stars

NHL Game Preview: Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars with Line Combinations 4/3/2025

Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars Venue: American Airlines CenterDate: Thursday, April 3Time: 7:00 pm CST TV: ESPN+ / FDSNSO / Victory+ Radio:Nashville – The Game 102.5 FMDallas – The Ticket 96.7 FM / 1310 AM DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:Nashville +1.5 ML -105Dallas -1.5 ML -115O/U 6.5 Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster Nashville Predators News & Notes: […]

Read More
Robert Thomas

NHL Game Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins at St. Louis Blues with Line Combinations 4/3/2025

Pittsburgh Penguins at St. Louis Blues Venue: Enterprise CenterDate: Thursday, April 3Time: 7:00 pm CSTTV: ESPN+ / FDSNMW / SN-PITRadio:Pittsburgh – 105.9 The XSt. Louis – 101 ESPN (101.1 FM) DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:Pittsburgh: +1.5 ML -130St. Louis: -1.5 ML +110O/U 5.5 Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster Pittsburgh Penguins News & Notes: The Penguins recently placed Emil […]

Read More
Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers Pregame Thoughts

Bruce McCurdy, a long-time hockey writer for the Edmonton Journal, passed away on Tuesday night shortly after the Oilers win in Vegas. Along with the journal, he also co-hosted the Cult Of Hockey podcast with fellow Oilers writer David Staples. His son Kevin tweeted out this news yesterday. Our thoughts, prayers and well wishes go […]

Read More