The San Jose Sharks have greatly bolstered the team’s forward group in the last two drafts and one of those key additions is Igor Chernyshov. The first pick in the second round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft comes in at number 12 on our Top 25 Under 25.
Position: Forward
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 203 lbs.
Age: 18
Date of Birth: November 30, 2005
Draft Year: 2024 (33rd overall by the San Jose Sharks)
Shoots: Right
2024-25 Team: Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Chernyshov started the season with MHK Dynamo Moskva, in the Russian junior league, where he earned 28 points in 22 games. He was soon called up to Dynamo Moskva in the KHL (Russia’s highest tier of hockey), where he played the remainder of the season. Despite only playing part of the season in the MHL, Chernyshov still finished sixth in scoring on MHK Dynamo Moskva and was fifth in that league among U-19 skaters with 1.27 points per game.
Chernyshov had a tougher time of it with Dynamo Moskva in the KHL and only managed 4 points in 34 games. He failed to score a point in 10 playoff games. That said, it’s worth remembering that Chernyshov was playing against much tougher competition as an 18-year-old. The KHL is a men’s league with many players who have played professional hockey for years. Chernyshov being able to hold his own at his age is a testament to his size and skill level.
What we like
As Eugene Helfrick of The Hockey Writers pointed out, this ability to play against men at his age is a major plus.
“He showcases a willingness to fight for his space on the ice and in front of the net, and he will drive opponents through the corners to force them out of play. He even has a solid scoring skillset that belies the talent of a top-six power forward,” wrote Helfrick.
The Athletic’s Corey Pronman ranked Chernyshov sixth in the Sharks’ prospect pipeline. Pronman also sees a player with the potential of becoming a top-six forward.
“He’s a big, powerful winger who skates well and has a lot of offensive creativity. He beats defenders routinely with his one-on-one plays, sees the ice well and can create at the net,” wrote Pronman. “He’s not going to run players over with his physical play, but he uses his body to create offense. He has the ability to control play at even strength due to his variety of tools and looks the part of a potential strong top-six winger in the NHL.”
Pronman believes that Chernyshov’s compete and shot are above NHL average, while his skating, puck skills and hockey sense are at NHL average.
Areas of improvement
With his size, skill and tenacity, Chernyshov could very well develop into an NHL power forward. He plays a direct game and has the skilled hands to work with the puck in the dirty areas. However, a player like that takes time to develop, especially as they are growing into their bodies.
Chernyshov will have the next few seasons to start developing those power-forward skills. As well as put on some weight. Power forwards tend to be heftier, a la Timo Meier, who weighs 220 lbs. and is 6-foot-1, or Brady Tkachuk, who is 6-foot-4 and 225 lbs. There’s some room for Chernyshov to grow.
What’s next for Chernyshov?
Luckily, he can do it here in North America.
The Russian winger signed a contract with the Sharks last month, a standard entry-level deal. Soon after, it was announced that Chernyshov signed with the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL. That means he’ll play professional hockey in Canada this season.
Spirit General Manager Dave Drinkill was excited to add Chernyshov to the roster.
“This is an extremely exciting day for the Spirit organization and its fans,” Drinkill told CHL reporter Josh Sweetland on the day Chernyshov signed. “Igor has the ability to make an immediate impact on our roster. We graduated a lot of players to the next level after last year’s championship run, but the caliber of our returning players plus the addition of Igor makes us very excited to get back onto the ice. I’m pleased to welcome him and the Chernyshov family to Saginaw.”
The Saginaw Spirit won the Memorial Cup last season, beating Sharks prospect Kasper Halttunen and the London Knights in the championship game.
Chernyshov will play alongside fellow NHL draftees like Hunter Haight (MIN), Owen Beck (MTL), Matyas Sapovaliv (VGK) and Zayne Parekh (CGY).
Highlight
The clip below is an encapsulation of all the things that Chernyshov brings to his game. It shows off his skating ability, his strong shot and the directness of his game.
Igor Chernyshov with the nice shot – post and in! First rounder in the 2024 #NHLDraft ? #HockeyTwitter pic.twitter.com/AUcukndVnG
— NHL Draft Prospects (@NHLDraftPros) March 6, 2024
