Yevgeni Oksentyuk

June 2022 – Now 21 years old, Okstenyuk is making progress towards a potential career in the NHL. A sixth round pick in 2020, Oksentyuk was a low-risk, potentially high-reward selection for the Stars. In 48 pro-games split between the ECHL (40 games), and the AHL (eight games) this season, Oksentyuk has started to more firmly adapt his game to North American ice, and is beginning to understand his role as an undersized player (5-7, 170lbs). I expect Oksentyuk to be in the AHL full time for 2022-2023, after a very successful ECHL campaign (40 games: 19 goals, 15 assists, 34 points), and if his development continues there, I would not be stunned if he gets a few NHL chances at some point during the season. For such a small frame, Oksentyuk has a very powerful shot, and in his short pro career, he has been effective as a middle-six sniper. If he ever makes the NHL full-time, expect him to fill the same role. Aaron Itovitch

October 2020 – Oksentyuk was drafted 162nd overall by the Stars. Oksentyuk is expected to spend another year in the OHL before turning pro.  Jokke Nevalainen

May 2020 – One of the best overage players in the 2020 draft, Oksentyuk showed off his talents in Flint this season with the Firebirds. He led the team in scoring with 78 points in 58 games and he also led the team in penalty minutes with 51. He is one of the most skilled pests in the draft and engages after the whistle, even if it means cutting a goal celebration short. He is always the first to defend his teammates and doesn’t let teams take advatage of him physically. He may only be 5’8″ but the Belarusian is an annoyance on the ice for the opposition. He has improved his skating by a large margin this year and while he still has a bit of a clunky stride at times, he is able to get around the ice and find the soft spots. Oksentyuk is a crafty playmaker who can also be a thorn in the opposition’s side. He could end up becoming a fan favorite at the next level as he did in his first season with the Firebirds. Tony Ferrari

January 2020 – If Yevgeni Oksentyuk had played in a league that had more exposure, he likely wouldn’t have been undrafted last year. Having played previously in Belarus, the 18-year-old made his way to North America after being taken by the Flint Firebirds in the most recent CHL Import Draft. He was able to step in and be a difference-maker for the Firebirds from day one. Leading Flint with 42 points in 31 games at the mid-way point of the season, he has stepped up and helped the once beleaguered franchise to respectability. He is a smaller winger but he doesn’t play like one. He invites physicality and generally sets the tone himself. He isn’t afraid to work the puck to the dirty areas of the ice and win puck battles. He is a relentless forechecker and is impressive along the boards considering his size. Oksentyuk is a puck retrieval machine. His offensive game is dynamic, unpredictable and consistently dangerous. He has a big shot but can sometimes have a hard time hitting the net. The volume of shots that Oksentyuk takes helps in that regard but working on hitting the net with consistency will be key. His vision is solid and he often makes passes that most players don’t think about making. With that creativity comes mistakes, however. The young Belarusian doesn’t lack for effort, often making up for those mistakes with a furious back check to, at a minimum, break up the play going the other way. Yevgeni Oksentyuk is an interesting prospect who teams will look at to play a middle-six skilled pest role. He has the potential to be a 60-point player with an edge. He will need to get physically stronger but a team willing to bet on that skill-tenacity combination could end up being a big winner. Tony Ferrari