Buchnelikov is an entertaining forward every time he steps foot on the ice. He is always on the attack and rarely spends any time in his defensive zone, which can be an issue too at times, as he leans pretty heavily towards one end of the ice. He’s very active out on the ice, driving play in transition, creating chances for himself, creating chances for his teammates, and doing excellent work off the puck to get open for shot attempts. Can execute a give-and-go perfectly, completing passes into the slot before receiving return passes and firing shots. Buchnelikov’s release can be lightning quick, with the puck hitting his stick and leaving it before the goalie even has a chance to react. His offensive instincts are very impressive, as he is able to process the play quickly and make decisions with the puck before opponents can react. His one-timer looks like a weapon. Plays well both as an individual and as someone who can make his teammates better. His control of the puck is high-end and he has a natural feel for passing it and receiving it. The offensive ability is there for Buchnelikov, as when he’s on the attack he looks like an elite prospect at times. The obvious downside is his lack of size and strength. He’s small now and there’s not a ton of frame to fill in unless he has an unexpected last-minute growth spurt. Does well on bigger ice surfaces but had some trouble fighting through traffic or beating opponents wide at the U18 tournament in Texas, something that could be an issue for him in the AHL or NHL as well. If he can find a way to translate his game to the next level, mainly by getting better at creating separation or finding quiet parts of the ice when he doesn’t have the puck, he could become a nice offensive contributor one day.

– FCHockey’s 2021 NHL Draft Guide