Russian teen drops to Stars at No. 12 in draft
The “Russian factor” doesn’t intimidate Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill.
In stride with the organization’s first-round pick in 2013, Valeri Nichushkin, the Stars selected Russian right winger Denis Gurianov as the 12th overall pick Friday in the NHL Draft.
The Stars had the 6-foot-3, 190-pound power forward as a top-five pick in the draft, but they believe the fear of losing the player to Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League caused him to fall to the Stars.
“There’s a reason Valeri Nichushkin dropped to us and that’s probably a reason Denis dropped to us also,” Nill said after the first round.
Nill, however, said he has no worries that Gurianov will remain in the Stars’ system.
Contrary to many European and Russian-born players who develop as pass-first playmakers, Nill said Gurianov’s scoring touch is what sticks out in the 18-year-old’s game.
In 23 games with Ladia Togliatti of the Russian MHL, Gurianov scored 15 goals and 25 points in the regular season and added three goals and an assist in four playoff games. He also played in eight KHL games with Togliatti, recording an assist.
“We just like the combination of the size and the skill,” Nill said.
Gurianov has two years remaining on his contract in Russia and will play at least one of those years in his native country. After that, Nill and the Stars will assess how he has developed before deciding if they will look into ways to move him out of Russia before the end of his contract.
The draft will conclude after rounds 2-7 Saturday. The Stars have a pick in the second round (49th overall), but won’t pick again until the fourth round (103rd overall).
Nill said he was in conversations about trade possibilities, possibly for a goaltender, and that second-round pick could be key to a possible deal.
“I’ve been in contact with all the teams today,” he said Friday. “Some you’re in and some you aren’t. We’re still involved in some, and we’ll see where it goes down the road.”
Nill said the Stars have some options in making a move for a goalie after a down year for starting goaltender Kari Lehtonen. But Nill also gave his starter a vote of confidence.
“We’re in a little bit different position than some teams,” Nill said. “Some teams don’t have any goalies at all and have to get a No. 1. I know we have a No. 1 goalie that’s going to be better next year. We just have to supplement and add depth to our goaltending up top.”
A goalie rotation is the way the NHL is moving and Nill said, and that’s what he’s looking to bring to Dallas.
“You might ride a goalie for 10 or 15 games and ride the next goalie for 10 or 15,” he said. “That’s just kind of the game nowadays. I’m looking at adding a real experienced guy to come in and really add depth to our organization.
Denis Gurianov bio
Age: 18Position: Right wing
Height: 6-3Weight: 190
Scouting report: Left-handed forward from Togliatti, Russia, brings speed, size and solid puck-handling. He compares his play to that of Stars forward Valeri Nichushkin.
This story was originally published June 26, 2015 at 11:43 PM with the headline "Russian teen drops to Stars at No. 12 in draft."