Ruslan Gazizov

July 2022 – Gazizov was not chosen in the 2022 NHL Draft. Nick Richard

May 2022 – Gazizov’s rookie OHL season went passably well, with 28 points in 54 games for the London Knights, but his below-par production hides a dynamic offensive player who can do some impressive things with the puck. Both his shot and his playmaking are refined, and the prospect can stickhandle very well. His high-paced game also helps him execute offensively and gives him the edge on defenders when entering the offensive zone.

On the defensive side is where the most issues arise for Gazizov; he struggles with picking up second-wave threats on the rush, and tends to stop moving his feet when he gets into his own zone. He doesn’t have the most massive reach, either, which hinders his ability to contribute to takeaways and possession time for his team. His skating needs some work as well in terms of power; his posture and technique are above-average, which helps make him elusive and dynamic, but he lacks lower-body strength and can lag behind on occasions as a result. He could become a Max Domi type with enough time, and will likely see more success on the wing than down the middle. A good longshot to take a flyer on in the third round. Hadi Kalakeche