Prospect Profile - Nikita Artamonov

Russian ™

Happy Friday! Let’s talk about some upcoming options for the Carolina Hurricanes at pick 27 in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and this week we’re going to look at one of the players who could fall due to the “Russian Factor™”, Nikita Artamonov.

Artamonov is a slightly smaller winger, standing at just 5’11 and 187 pounds, but don’t let his size fool you. He’s a forechecking winger who loves to be physical, not afraid to run into someone to try and win the puck. Playing the overwhelming majority of the season with Torpedo in the KHL, Artamonov had 7 goals and 16 assists for 23 points in 54 games.

Artamonov’s calling is his forecheck. He’s relentless, always finding that extra gear in his motor to keep the defenders in check. He’s also adept at winning the puck battles, coming away from the boards with the puck more times than not. Artamonov is also a skilled playmaker, flashing his passing ability on most nights. According to tracking done by EliteProspects, he had the most slot passes among European skaters playing in a top league within the last 5 years. He’s intelligent when it comes to offensive work, which when paired with his adept forechecking and defensive ability make him an intriguing prospect.

One thing that’s holding Artamonov back from probably going higher in the draft is his skating. His base is mechanically flawed which has led to him falling down draft boards. Also, there isn’t a dynamic quality within his skillset, focusing on refining every quality of his game rather than being exceptional in just one regard.

Overall, I’m a big fan of Artamonov. Anytime a player at just 18 years old can hang around in the KHL, it normally signifies something special. If he can work on that footwork and keep getting smarter while on the ice, he projects as a nice middle 6 six at the NHL level. If he’s there at 27, which there is a great chance that he is, I would put Artamonov high on that “should draft” list.