9. Semyon Der-Arguchintsev
Age: 21
Height/Weight: 5’10” 163 lbs.
Position: Centre
Shoots: Right
Draft: 3rd Round, 76th Overall 2017
Semyon Der-Arguchintsev is, I think, the Toronto Maple Leafs most interesting prospect. He has NHL level passing and puck control skills that are probably close to elite (it’s hard to judge when he is playing against non-NHL players).
At times, he looks like a future star player, and you can check out all sorts of highlights of him looking like one on Youtube.
Critics, however, are quick to point out that he doesn’t have NHL size or strength, and that he lacks another dimension to his game – such as an NHL shot, or speed.
There is a reason that a player that can pass like him fell to the 3rd round of the draft where skills like his either don’t exist or come with a set of problems.
Four assists in six games in his Marlies debut were encouraging. We had him seventh last year, but the Leafs got rid of both players we had between SDA and Kokkonen, and he didn’t exactly rock the KHL either.
The Toronto Maple Leafs will likely be patient with Der-Arguchintsev because he’s got a ton of talent and a beloved personality. If he makes it, he’ll make it as a star player. The odds that that happens get smaller every year, but there’s still hope.