The general feeling around Sharks fans when they selected Igor Chernyshov with the 33rd pick in the 2nd round of the 2024 draft was that we made out like bandits. Chernyshov was widely viewed as a first-round talent. There was even some buzz that he would be an option for the Sharks with the 14th overall pick before they traded up. A nasty sunburn suffered the day before the NHL combine allegedly hurt his stock, and the Sharks couldn't be happier.
Chernyshov would come to North America for the 2024-25 season, opting to play for Saginaw of the OHL rather than his KHL club, Dynamo Moskva. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury suffered in the offseason would keep him out for most of the season. When he returned, however, he went nuclear in the OHL—racking up 19 goals and 55 points in just 23 games good for the highest PPG (points per game) in the OHL by a wide margin, albeit in a small sample size.
“A powerful skater and a high-end handler, Chernyshov excels at anticipating openings and exploiting them. He beats defenders consistently by properly setting up his dekes, building up speed below the puck, and then attacking with a speed advantage and working give-and-goes. While he’s often direct, he also has a rather advanced delay game that he can pull out when the situation calls for it.” This is what Eliteprospects had to say about Chernyshov in their 2024 draft guide. Chernyshov looked like a man amongst boys in the OHL. Some things that stood out in my viewings this season were his ability to anticipate play and find open space in addition to his shot from range. These are areas that are going to help Chernyshov transition to the pro game sooner rather than later.
Chernyshov has gotten off to a good start to his pro career in North America, joining the Barracuda after his OHL season came to an end. Notching his first goal in game 4 of the 2nd round of the AHL playoffs for the Cuda. John McCarthy had this to say about Chernyshov. “Bigger body, can protect the puck, can go in first [on the forecheck]. Has some skill,” McCarthy said. “Really exciting player to watch.”
It will be interesting to see if Chernyshov can make the NHL out of training camp or if he is AHL-bound for at least the start. Due to his pro-ready frame and hockey sense, I am hoping Chernyshov can jump in to make an impact next year. Regardless, the Sharks have a potential gem on the horizon in Igor Chernyshov.