how is Denisenko not one dimensional if you think hepo is? Are they not both dynamic offensive wingers?
Hepo produces at every level and on every stage while being physically inferior to everyone. That’s really impressive. He’s having a great year in a pro league. Deni is not having such a great pro year.
He's 18 and tiny; he's been fine.
There are currently only 23 U-20 kids that have played at least 20 games in the KHL this year. Amongst this group, Denisenko has the third best .ppg pace, behind only Vesalainen and Kravtsov - both first rounders who are much bigger, stronger and also 6-12 months older than him. He's bounced around quite a bit - KHL, VHL, MHL, international tournaments. His production outside of the KHL has been good/excellent (let's not forget he was tied with Hepo for most points at the U-20 WJC.)
We drafted him as a project and he is still just that. The scouts that love Denisenko's upsite point to his tools and compare him to Nikita Kucherov. And the thing is, Kucherov wasn't setting the world on fire at this age either - he went 1+4 in 18 KHL games in his draft+1 year, which is comparable to Denisenko's 4+2 in 26 games. Both of them produced much better against lesser competition; Kucherov in the MHL, Denisenko on the international stage.
Denisenko also had 3 points in 6 KHL playoff games, which is very good.
Next year is when I want to see better production from him.
(FWIW I'm also pretty high on Hepo - absolutely love his vision and playmaking.)