Ivan Chekhovich

July 2021 – Chekhovich still did not manage to find his game throughout the 2020-2021 season. He started in four games with the San Jose Sharks, raking in a plus-minus of -3 and registering just one assist. He then went to play in the KHL for the Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo, where he performed much better. He potted 17 goals and had 17 assists for 34 points in 43 games. Toward the end of the season, he came back to play with the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL. And he continued to struggle. At 22 years old, he still has time to develop, but it has to happen fast. The San Jose Sharks organization is in the process of turning the corner, and it’s up to Chekhovich whether he’s going to play an integral role. So far, it’s hard to see Chekhovich cracking more than minimum minutes on the bottom line for the 2021-2022 season. Collin

May 2020 – Despite ample opportunities in a top-six role with the Barracuda, Chekhovich struggled to produce offensively and was ultimately demoted to the third and fourth lines this season. The gifted Russian hoped to play a leading role in the Barracuda’s offense and perhaps even get a sniff of the NHL. Instead, Chekhovich will have to battle to earn a spot with San Jose’s club next season along with an abundance of other youngsters. With the big club struggling to score, he will need to step up his game if he hopes to get a longer look from the Sharks front office. Alex Howes

June 2019 – Chekhovich is yet another of the many Sharks prospects who will be turning pro next season. The Russian sniper finished an impressive QMJHL career with 224 points in 191 games. Chekhovich capped off the year with a short AHL stint, posting four points in five games. He showed well in pre-season and training camp with the Sharks last year and there is no reason to believe he will not do the same this season. Despite the logjam on the Barracuda, Chekhovich is a lock for a roster spot, most likely in a top-six role given the success he has already enjoyed there. More interesting will be whether or not the Sharks give him a longer look at the NHL level this season. Chris Legg

March 2019 – Ivan Chekhovich finished the QMJHL regular season with 105 points in 66 games, good for second in overall points, and his 43 goals placed him fourth in the league. The Russian sniper has had a great regular season, the next step for Chekhovich is a first-round playoff series against the Moncton Wildcats. He made a good push for the Sharks roster last season in training camp and you can expect him to do the same next season. The Barracuda is the more likely landing spot for him however. Chris Legg

December 2018 – Ivan Chekhovich was left off the final Russian roster for the World Junior Championship in Vancouver, after reportedly dealing with a back injury which he suffered while training in the gym. This is bad news for both the player and team Russia, as Chekhovich was set to play a prominent role with the team and is not eligible for next year’s tournament. This news shouldn’t affect Chekhovich’s fantasy value, although there may be an opportunity to get good value on him if he remains under the radar. Chris Legg

December 2018 – Chekhovich will join the Russian team for this upcoming World Junior Championship in Vancouver. Chekhovich, along with the other Russian players playing in North America, will join the team when it makes its way to Canadian soil later this month. his 25 goals lead the QMJHL and his 48 points are good for fourth in the league. The Russians are an unpredictable group, so it’s tough to project where he will line up. He certainly has a chance to play in their top six. Chris Legg

November 2018 – Chekhovich is doing his part to prove that his pre-season performance with the Sharks was not just a flash in the pan. Checkhovich is currently leading the QMJHL in goals with 22 and sits fourth in points with 44 in just 27 games played. The knock on Chekhovich has been his work ethic, but he has shown he can produce consistently this season. The one caveat I will add is that Chekhovich’s age related to his production is a bit of a concern. Chekhovich turns 20 in January, historically 20 year olds that produce in the QMJHL haven’t found great success in the NHL. However Chekhovich is doing all that can be asked of him this season and should be moved up in prospect rankings accordingly. Chris Legg

September 2018 – Ivan Chekhovich has been returned to the QMJHL from the San Jose Sharks training camp roster. This comes despite what can only be described as an outstanding performance by Chekhovich, throughout both the Sharks rookie tournament and main camp. Notably, Chekhovich posted three points against the Ducks in his one and only pre-season game with the Sharks. Clearly, the Sharks are thinking long-term with Chekhovich and with no space for him at the top of the line-up, another year of development in junior is the best path for him. Expect big numbers in the QMJHL this season and another run at an NHL roster spot next fall. Chris Legg

August 2018 – Checkhovich had a season that might leave some wondering whether he’s a first line talent or a bust, which seems to be par for the course for the Russian forward. First, the bad, Checkhovich seemed to stagnate a bit for the QMJHL’s Baie-Comeau Drakkar. His points-per-game average dropped from 0.98 in his draft year, to 0.92 in his draft plus one season. This is especially concerning given fellow top players for the Drakkar, Joly and Martel, both saw a dramatic uptick in production. Then the good, following the Drakkar’s QMJHL playoff exit, Checkhovich joined the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda. Checkhovich then exploded for nine points in six games and was a major factor in the Barracuda’s push for a playoff spot. Granted, this is a small sample size so care should be taken not to put too much stock in this AHL run. In the end I feel the Sharks are no closer to knowing what they have in Checkhovich than they were when they drafted him in 2017. There has been no indication yet that Checkhovich will turn pro this season, if he does return to the Drakkar, Checkhovich will need a big year to silence the doubters. Chris Legg

January 2018 – The third overall pick in the 2016 CHL Import draft, taken before names like Nich Hischier, Filip Zadina and Aleksi Heponiemi the fall for Ivan Chekhovic was a mighty one in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Every outlet predicted Chekhovich to go somewhere between rounds two and four. Falling to the Sharks at 212, with just a handful of picks left in the draft is a zero risk, high-reward selection for the skilled winger.

Chekhovich was one of the better draft eligible skaters with Baie-Comeau Drakkar but concerns about his off-puck play and a compete level that is best described as inconsistent kept him out of top consideration, despite a willingness to be in the gritty areas of the ice and knock in rebound goals. He has good acceleration, is a dangerous puck distributor with strong hockey sense and vision on the ice. Either way, the skill set alone should have seen the small Russian stay firmly in the top half of the draft.

He was nearly a point-per-game skater in his draft year and so far in the 2017-18 campaign is far off the pace at just 12 goals and 13 assists through 38 contests. Zachary DeVine