AstoriaIceNinja
Registered User
EP Link: http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=269050
Note: I haven't specified which forward position he plays because I don't know. EP just lists him as a forward.
So clearly stats aren't everything, but I found it rather perplexing that Mityakin didn't even get drafted this year. Sure, he's an older player for the draft (born 12/1997) with premier size at 6'3" and 194 lbs, so perhaps it might be expected for him to put up good numbers at the MHL level. But EP says Avto Yekaterinburg had a sub-.500 record last season (13-19 without factoring in OT wins and losses, of which there were 6 of each), and Mityakin still put up 28 points (15 goals, 13 assists) in 31 games.
Add on that he played in 16 KHL games, which is impressive on its own. Admittedly, he only played about for five minutes of ice time per game on average and less in the playoffs as per the KHL website, so given that I wouldn't particularly expect him to be put in many situations to score.
I think the kid has a bright future given Avtomobilist's tendency to give younger players bigger roles on the team (Golyshev and Tryamkin come to mind), and I think him playing most of his games in the KHL next year is not out of the question. Add in the possibility of a U20 WJC call-up (for which being older could likely be to his advantage), and it's not unreasonable to suggest someone makes up their this year's oversight and picks him up next season.
Note: I haven't specified which forward position he plays because I don't know. EP just lists him as a forward.
So clearly stats aren't everything, but I found it rather perplexing that Mityakin didn't even get drafted this year. Sure, he's an older player for the draft (born 12/1997) with premier size at 6'3" and 194 lbs, so perhaps it might be expected for him to put up good numbers at the MHL level. But EP says Avto Yekaterinburg had a sub-.500 record last season (13-19 without factoring in OT wins and losses, of which there were 6 of each), and Mityakin still put up 28 points (15 goals, 13 assists) in 31 games.
Add on that he played in 16 KHL games, which is impressive on its own. Admittedly, he only played about for five minutes of ice time per game on average and less in the playoffs as per the KHL website, so given that I wouldn't particularly expect him to be put in many situations to score.
I think the kid has a bright future given Avtomobilist's tendency to give younger players bigger roles on the team (Golyshev and Tryamkin come to mind), and I think him playing most of his games in the KHL next year is not out of the question. Add in the possibility of a U20 WJC call-up (for which being older could likely be to his advantage), and it's not unreasonable to suggest someone makes up their this year's oversight and picks him up next season.
