[The Athletic] Classement des meilleurs joueurs et espoirs de moins de 23 ans de la LNH
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GMBarryTrotz
@Predators de Nashville
[The Athletic] Classement des meilleurs joueurs et espoirs de moins de 23 ans de la LNH
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GMBarryTrotz
1 Comment
**Tier 7** Bubble Top line / Middle of the lineup player
57: Askarov
69: Matthew Wood
**Tier 8** Middle of the lineup player
83: Parssinen
87: Kemell
95: Tomasino
100: Molendyk
123: Evangelista
136: Schaefer
>Askarov isn’t an easy evaluation but he’s been very good in the AHL since coming over from Russia. There are times when I watch him and he looks like the rare type of goalie who can dominate. Askarov is a high-end athlete who has the power and quickness in his lower half to make all the tough lateral saves in the NHL. He’s an aggressive, competitive goalie who challenges shooters and improvises well. He reads the play well, but he does get a little over-aggressive at times and can be caught out of position. You’d love to see his game get more consistent and less noisy, but the noise is part of what makes him good at the same time. I think he can be a starting goalie in the NHL.
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>Wood has been up and down this season as a sophomore, but he is a very gifted offensive player. He has excellent one-on-one skills and offensive IQ as a playmaker. He also has an excellent wrist shot and one-timer, making him a major asset on the power play. Wood is a big winger as well, so the size/skill combo has a lot of upside. However, his skating is an issue as he lacks the ability to separate. The pace of the NHL will challenge him. I wouldn’t call him an overly physical or high-compete type, but Wood is a big body who can use his frame to win battles and gets to the inside parts of the offensive zone well enough. The inconsistencies in his game I think come more from his feet than his frame. As he continues to adjust to quicker paces, it’s why I think he can be a top-six NHL wing, even if he may frustrate you along the way.