Vasilevskiy highlights latest crop of young Russian stars
With each passing day, the NHL becomes increasingly a young man's game. Some of the game's best players are barely old enough to buy a drink, but that isn't stopping them from taking the league by storm.
This trend is especially evident when you take a look at Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy and some of the other young Russian-born players making their mark in NHL rinks.
Let's take a quick look into the latest crop of young Russian stars.
Pavel Buchnevich, RW - New York Rangers
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Size, speed, and skill, this 22-year-old has it all. At 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, Buchnevich is a physical force who can shoot the puck with the best of them.
Across the first 18 games of the season, the winger has impressive numbers while playing on the Rangers' top line with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad.
Buchnevich is just starting to scratch the surface of his offensive potential, but he already has eight goals and seven assists this season.
Evgenii Dadonov, RW - Florida Panthers
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A longstanding fixture in KHL arenas, Dadonov is making a seemingly seamless transition to the NHL's smaller rinks.
At 28 years old, Dadonov might fall out of the "young" category, but that doesn't change the fact the NHL rookie can still produce. Last season for SKA St. Petersburg, Dadonov finished fifth in KHL scoring with 66 points. And while the top five might be a tall ask this year for the diminutive winger (5-foot-11, 185 pounds), Dadonov's slick hands make up for what he lacks in size.
Through 16 games for the Panthers, Dadonov has impressed, sitting fourth in team scoring with seven goals and nine assists.
Vladislav Namestnikov, C/W - Tampa Bay LightningLightning general manager Steve Yzerman's patience with the 24-year-old sniper is paying off in spades.
The high-flying Lightning sit atop the Eastern Conference with 30 points, and with Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos leading the charge, Namestnikov's solid start has mostly gone overlooked.
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Sure, fans in Tampa and more dedicated hockey circles know who he is, especially after he suited up for Russia at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, but Namestnikov has spent most of his career under the radar - until now.
In addition to contributing offensively (nine goals, 10 assists this season), the talented natural center plays a strong two-way game while also possessing the ability to play the wing.
Nikita Zaitsev, D - Toronto Maple Leafs
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Similar to Dadonov, Zaitsev had a lengthy career in his homeland before making the jump across the pond, playing in seven KHL seasons.
Another member of Russia's 2016 World Cup squad, the 26-year-old has cemented himself as a top-four NHL defenseman while carving out a key contributing role on Toronto's blue line.
Logging heavy minutes, playing special teams, or chipping in with a timely goal, Zaitsev really can do it all.
Ivan Provorov, D - Philadelphia Flyers
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The youngest member of the group at only 20, Provorov is a gifted rearguard who can be a difference-maker at both ends of the ice.
At 6-foot-1, 201 pounds, the former seventh overall pick moves extremely well for a bigger guy, while also being able to contribute offensively.
The former CHL Defenseman of the Year has 38 points across his first 99 NHL games, and stands to be a key piece of the Flyers' defensive future.
Andrei Vasilevskiy, G - Tampa Bay LightningThe inspiration for this piece has also been a revelation for the Lightning, as Vasilevskiy sits near the top of most goaltending categories, including wins (13) and save percentage (.930).
Another result of Yzerman's zen-like patience, Vasilevskiy is finally Tampa's uncontested No. 1, and let's just say, he looks like he should've been for quite some time.
A sparkling 13-1-1 record has the 23-year-old in early Vezina Trophy conversations.
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