From Sept. 27-Oct. 6, Charlie Roumeliotis will profile one prospect per day — 10 total — leading up to the 2020 NHL Draft as the Blackhawks prepare to pick No. 17 overall.
Rodion Amirov
Position: Left wing
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Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 177 pounds
Shoots: Left
Scouting report:
NHL
"Amirov is a very skilled player. We've been watching him for a couple years. He was playing with the national team at a young age." — Blackhawks Vice President of Amateur Scouting Mark Kelley
"A skilled left wing with speed and high hockey IQ who can play all situations, he models his game after forwards Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He had 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) and four power-play goals in 17 games with Tolpar Ufa in Russia's junior league and two assists in 21 games in the Kontinental Hockey League." — Mike G. Morreale, NHL.com
"Can impact a game effectively at even strength. Most recent viewings were impressive." — Sam Cosentino, Sportsnet
Fit for Blackhawks:
Amirov checks a lot of boxes teams are looking for in a young player. He's skilled, thinks the game at a high level and plays a 200-foot game. You also have to like that fact he studies NHL superstars Kucherov and Matthews.
The Blackhawks have made it clear they will take the best available player at No. 17, but Amirov would fill an organizational need, too. He plays on the left side and would balance out the forward group quite nicely in the coming years with Alex DeBrincat, Dominik Kubalik and Patrick Kane.