Sunday, February 1, 2009

The Evgeny Grachev Show

The Dean Prentice Prospect of the Month

Evgeny Grachev got his 2009 off to a very impressive start as the Ranger's 2008 3rd round pick put up excellent numbers for the month of January. In a total of 14 games, Grachev was 10-13-23 for the month.,

In 3 games with Team Russia during the medal round of the World Under-20 Championships, Grachev was 2-2-4. Upon returning to Brampton of the OHL Grachev got even better as he was 8-11-19 +16 in 11 games.

It was a month where Grachev simply got better and better as the month wore on. Even more impressive was that Grachev had points in 13 straight games with just the last game of the month as the only one where Grachev failed to record any points.

You want more perhaps? How about that Grachev had just one game where he was a "minus", 4 games where Grachev had 3 points and a 4 game goal scoring streak. It was also a month where Grachev had 3 First Stars, 1 Second Star, and 2 Third Stars.

Oh and Grachev was also named to play in the OHL All-Star Game but if you want to find a reason to knock Grachev then it will be that he only had one game winning goal. Other than that there is nothing but positives about Grachev's efforts.

Other players who earned consideration were Michael Del Zotto of the London Knights (4-9-13) and Max Campbell of Western Michigan (5-1-6).

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But now we are in the month of February and Evgeny Grachev is starting a new streak. Grachev scored his prospect leading 28th goal of the season as his Brampton Battalion won their 10th straight game 6-3 over the Sudbury Wolves.

Grachev's goal was all him as Grachev forced a turnover, took the puck up ice and using his backhand to score what proved to be the game winner at 16:40 of the second period. Grachev has a legit chance to score 40 goals this season as well as 80 points.

Michael Del Zotto (2008 1st) and his London Knights finished a 3 games in 3 nights stretch with a 4-3 loss to the Ottawa 67s. Del Zotto had an assist as well as a -1 for the night as this was a very tired Knight team.

Del Zotto is going to the OHL All-Star Game on Wednesday where he will be facing Grachev.

Danny Hobbs (2007 7th) was a healthy scratch as his UMass Minutemen lost to the Maine BlackBears 2-1

(Grachev courtesy of the Brampton Battalion)

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