There is nothing flashy in Gustlistov’s game, he doesn’t do anything that makes your jaw drop, but he is a steady and hard worker offensively, which allows himself to make his presence felt. Despite going undrafted in 2020 he spent the majority of this season in the KHL and was able to chip in on the score sheet, which is not easy to do as an 18-year-old. He has really keen offensive hockey sense, allowing himself to find quiet ice and to interrupt breakout attempts. He does his best work in and around the slot, in different ways. He’ll go there without the puck to make himself an option for passes and tips or to screen the goalie, and he is fairly proficient at sending high-danger passes there from outside the circles. His wrist shot comes off his stick quickly and confidently, and is a weapon from as far back as medium-danger areas. He’s pretty slow and soft on his edges, which you never want to see out of a player his size. He plays center at lower levels but doesn’t have the strength or quickness to handle the responsibilities of the position long-term at higher levels, and on top of that, he really struggles in the faceoff dot. Defensively, he has a slight tendency to find a spot in the zone and remain there. He’s consistent on a shift-by-shift basis, but his game lacks intensity and he struggles performing at a high pace. That stagnant style of play will cause issues for him in the future, but it’s something that can be worked on and coached out of his game if he commits himself to it. Athleticism and conditioning also appear to be issues for him, especially for someone a little older for this draft. Whether or not Guslistov can apply himself with his off-ice training and find a fire in his belly will determine if he ever comes to North America or just becomes a pro in Russia.

– FCHockey’s 2021 NHL Draft Guide