Kirill Dolzhenkov is a massive winger who combines his blend of size, strength, and puck control to create in the offensive zone. His size and strength is immediately noticeable every time he steps on the ice, as he stands with both an imposing height and weight, making it incredibly difficult for opposing defenders to knock him off pucks or gain body positioning against him in front of the net. He is well aware of the advantage he has every time he hops over the boards, and he’s able to leverage his size and reach to protect pucks from opposing checkers. He controls pucks very well for a player his size, able to shield it away from opposing defenders with his body while also showcasing his ability to handle the puck in tight spaces around the goal mouth. He also shows ability as a scorer, as he’s not only able to find pucks close to the goal but also is able to get his weight behind a powerful wrist shot at times as well. Where improvement needs to come for him, unsurprisingly, is in his mobility. He, understandably, lacks agility and pace in his skating as he lumbers around the ice. He skates flat-footed and has no burst. His stride is generally sluggish and at times clumsy, making it difficult for him to generate speed quickly and play the game with pace. Defensive awareness and overall work rate are issues, too. He also shows a very low engagement rate away from the puck, often floating in his defensive zone and lacking attention to positional detail that allows chances to develop. He will need to improve his mobility to play at even-strength at higher levels as well as improvement his defensive commitment, but has the upside to be a depth piece who can play the net-front on the power play.

– FCHockey’s 2022 NHL Draft Guide