StevenToddIves
Registered User
2021 Draft Profile:
RD Dmitri Kostenko, Lada Togliatti VHL
While not a player who will be a likely target in the first few rounds of the draft, Kostenko is an intriguing but very raw defenseman who is a potential value pick for the late rounds. He features excellent edges and good puck-skills which make him extremely elusive for oppositional forecheckers. Kostenko is also a player who passes quite well in space and is particularly good at defending opposing rushes.
He has a lot to work on however. Kostenko can get trapped running around in his own zone when the other team establishes a forecheck. Though he has projectable size at 6'1-165, he is not currently strong enough to body opponents off the puck. He is also a bit mistake prone when trying to overextend himself with stretch and outlet passes.
Defensemen are tougher to project than forwards, and they tend to develop a bit slower. Sometimes, you get defensemen who do not establish themselves until their early 20s when they hone their decision making and grow fully into their adult bodies. Kostenko has several elements of this type of player, and his fine skating and elusiveness with the puck gives me hope here, along with the fact that there are elements of his defensive game which currently impress.
Dmitri Kostenko is certainly a player who would jump out to me if I were drafting in the 6th/7th rounds and his name was still on the board, which is certainly a possibility.
RD Dmitri Kostenko, Lada Togliatti VHL
While not a player who will be a likely target in the first few rounds of the draft, Kostenko is an intriguing but very raw defenseman who is a potential value pick for the late rounds. He features excellent edges and good puck-skills which make him extremely elusive for oppositional forecheckers. Kostenko is also a player who passes quite well in space and is particularly good at defending opposing rushes.
He has a lot to work on however. Kostenko can get trapped running around in his own zone when the other team establishes a forecheck. Though he has projectable size at 6'1-165, he is not currently strong enough to body opponents off the puck. He is also a bit mistake prone when trying to overextend himself with stretch and outlet passes.
Defensemen are tougher to project than forwards, and they tend to develop a bit slower. Sometimes, you get defensemen who do not establish themselves until their early 20s when they hone their decision making and grow fully into their adult bodies. Kostenko has several elements of this type of player, and his fine skating and elusiveness with the puck gives me hope here, along with the fact that there are elements of his defensive game which currently impress.
Dmitri Kostenko is certainly a player who would jump out to me if I were drafting in the 6th/7th rounds and his name was still on the board, which is certainly a possibility.