San Jose Sharks Prospect Perspective: Forward Ivan Chekhovich
Ivan Chekhovich’s perspective is part three of a series that will be highlighting some of the prospects within the San Jose Sharks organization.
The 2019 NHL Entry draft and the annual summer prospect scrimmage are fast approaching for the San Jose Sharks and that means that members of Sharks territory will be getting a chance to see some of the young talent within the Sharks organization. Fans of Team Teal won’t have a tough time identifying the Russian born Ivan Chekhovich when he is on the ice later this month.
The 20-year-old introduced himself to the Sharks during last years preseason scoring 2 goals and recording an assist in the first game of the 2018 – 2019 season. This caught the attention of Sharks fans and scouts alike with questions being raised about whether he would be staying with the big club throughout the year.
Ultimately the Sharks decided that he still needed some conditioning down in Juniors. That meant that Chekhovich spent the year with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL. The Russian born winger had a monster year in his 3rd season for the Canadian Junior club. He finished in the entire league in total points compiling 105 of them in 66 games (2nd in the league). The Russian born sniper showed off his lethel shot with 43 of those points being goals and got awarded CHL Player of Week on multiple occasions.
Skaters in the QMJHL are known for putting up large amounts of points considering the leagues lack of overall talent spread throughout the 18 teams. However Ivan Chekhovich’s jump in production is what should stand out to Sharks scouts and fans alike.
The San Jose Sharks 2017 7th round pick in the NHL Entry draft point production skyrocketed by 45 points from 2017 – 2018 (60) to 2018 – 2019 (105). Not only that but his plus minus did a complete 180° going from -11 to +42 in his 66 games for the Baie-Comeau Drakker. The left wingers production was a huge reason his team went from ending in the bottom half of the league last season clinching a spot in the 2019 Memorial Cup Playoffs.
Ivan Chekohovich played a huge role for the San Jose Barracuda during the 2019 Calder Cup Playoffs where he scored 2 goals and racked up an assist. His presence was a much-needed bump to a sometimes lackluster Barracuda offense. They got eliminated in the first round by the rival San Diego Gull’s but the young skater showed that he is able to play and produce in the professional leagues.
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The San Jose Barracuda are going to look a little different next season with some very unique offensive talents coming up through the ranks. Ivan Chekovich’s lethal shot and deceptively fast skating ability are skills that transfer well into the professional ranks. It’ll be exciting to see Chekhovich put his offensive abilities in the upcoming prospect scrimmage on June 28th.