Why the Blue Jackets should consider drafting Danila Yurov, a well-rounded winger
After Danila Yurov burst onto the scene with an 11-point performance in seven games at the 2021 U18 World Championships, draft analysts began projecting him as a potential top-10 talent for the 2022 NHL draft.
Unfortunately, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the associated uncertainty around obtaining visas for Russian hockey players has caused Yurov to slide down draft boards and makes him a riskier prospect in this draft, through no fault of his own.
The general expectation is that risk-averse general managers will likely let Russian players slide somewhat in this draft, but talents like Yurov and Pavel Mintyukov are still going to be first-round selections.
As the Blue Jackets prepare to make their selections at sixth and 12th overall on July 7, here's what to know about Yurov, who ranks seventh on NHL Central Scouting's list of European skaters:
Position: Right wing
Height, weight: 6-1, 178
Shoots: Left
Birthdate: Dec. 22, 2003
Hometown: Chelyabinsk, Russia
Team (League): Magnitogorsk (MHL and KHL)
2021-22 point totals: 13 goals and 23 assists in 23 MHL games; Zero points in 21 KHL games
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What are Danila Yurov's strengths?
Yurov is unquestionably a dominant offensive player in the MHL, the Russian junior league. He's a strong, elusive skater, capable of breaking the puck out himself and fooling defenders on the rush up the ice. Yurov is constantly scanning the ice, looking for plays to make, and is always aware of where his teammates are — or where they're going to be.
He's more dangerous as a passer than as a shooter, but he is a serious one-timer threat on the power play and can beat goalies with a quick release at five-on-five. When he has to take more time to shoot, like changing his release to get the puck around a defender, that's when his shot isn't as effective.
Yurov's scanning and awareness make him a highly effective distributor, regularly finding his teammates in dangerous scoring areas and setting them up for scoring chances. The skating ability and his ice awareness also make him a solid defender as he understands where he needs to be, where the puck is going to be and how to get there. All of those attributes at both ends of the ice combine to make Yurov a strong possession player.
What are Danila Yurov's weaknesses?
There are few, if any, true weaknesses in Yurov's game. His ceiling, though, is dependent on the development of his offensive game, which doesn't currently project as high-end at the NHL level.
His incredibly minimal usage in the KHL — he averaged less than five minutes per game and often played less than two — makes it challenging to get a clear evaluation of Yurov's offensive skillset against men. Did he only tally two points in 42 career KHL games because the way he creates offense doesn't translate, or was he limited to a simple, defense-first role because of his miniscule ice time?
It isn't an inherent red flag that a teenager didn't produce in arguably the second-best league in the world, particularly given how infrequently he touched the ice. But it does raise questions going forward, and it's possible that splitting the last two seasons between the KHL and MHL dampened his overall development.
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How would Danila Yurov fit in the Blue Jackets' system?
The general consensus is that Yurov projects as a well-rounded middle-six winger. He could climb as high as the top six if his offensive game develops more, but he's unlikely to be a play-driver on a team's top line.
That makes Yurov an interesting consideration for the Jackets. Columbus is long on wingers throughout the system, with established NHL players like Patrik Laine, Jakub Voracek and Oliver Bjorkstrand locked into top-six roster spots and prospects like Kirill Marchenko, Dmitry Voronkov and Liam Foudy still on their way.
If the Jackets believe Yurov projects as more of a contributor than any of the prospects currently in the pool, he could be a valuable addition. But if Yurov doesn't hit his ceiling, he may add to the logjam of wingers all fighting for a spot in Columbus.
Will Danila Yurov be available for the Blue Jackets?
Given the uncertainty around Russian prospects right now, it's very likely that Yurov will be available at the Jackets' second pick of the first round, 12th overall. Most projections have Yurov being selected in the 15-25 range, with some chance he goes as high as 11 or as low as 28.
The Jackets may be more willing to take the risk on a Russian player because they have two first-round picks. They also have a multitude of Russian prospects already in the system, which means they likely have more confidence in their ability to get a player to come over from Russia than some other teams.
How long until Danila Yurov is ready for the NHL?
For Yurov, the question isn't so much when he'll be ready from a hockey perspective and more when he'll be able to come to the United States. He's under contract with Magnitogorsk through 2022-23, but it's common for Russian teams to work hard to keep their players in Russia for as long as possible.
Adding to the complexity is the uncertainty around obtaining American visas for Russian players, which is said to be more difficult now, particularly for players without a history of playing in North America. NHL teams were also told in March, per Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli, that they were not allowed to have contact with the KHL, KHL teams or Russia-based agents, making it more complicated to bring Russian players to the NHL.
Teams are able to speak with North America-based agents for Russian players, so there is one line of communication available. Assuming Yurov leaves Russia after the 2022-23 season and is able to get a visa, it's not a stretch to imagine him being a regular NHL contributor as soon as 2023-24.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: NHL draft profile: Danila Yurov, Russian winger
