Name: Vitali Abramov
2015/16 team: Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)
Stats: 63GP, 38 goals, 55 assists, 93 points, 36PIMs, +36
Future Considerations Ranking: 22nd
NHL Comparable Player: Mats Zuccarello
Vitali Abramov came to the QMJHL this year after being selected with the 13th overall pick in the CHL Import Draft. Abramov went on to be named QMJHL Rookie of the Year after scoring 93 points in 63 games. This was good enough for the highest scoring Olympiques and fifth in scoring overall.
He’s an extremely good skater with good playmaking skills and an excellent sniper. However the main issue with Abramov is his size. He is 5’9″ and 170lbs, not the smallest in the draft but smaller than the average.
Although he puts in the effort defensively he can be out muscled by his bigger opponents. He’ll come back and help out but in the future, and to be effective in the professional leagues, he’ll likely have to get more upper body strength to be able to compete in physical battles.
He has the skating ability and offensive talent to be a top six winger in the NHL. However the questions over his size have meant that he has fallen down the draft rankings.
The lack of offensively talented forwards in the Dallas Stars prospect pool, outside of the professional leagues, is well noted. Abramov is a boom or bust prospect who could become a very good forward.
Will the Dallas Stars decide to take a risk and pick this offensive dynamo out of the QMJHL?
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