A very smart and skilled hockey player, Ponomarev always seems to know what to do when he gets the puck and uses his speed to strike fast though he could improve his edge work. A quick forward with a bevy of offensive tools in his arsenal, he uses his agility to jump into open spaces and drives the slot hard and displays an ability to get into dangerous shooting positions even with tough coverage. His shot is sharp and he boasts a quick release, which makes him even more dangerous on the rush. He possesses good vision and understands the game mentally well. Great playmaking skills. Possesses soft hands but while his puck handling can dazzle the eyes, he sometimes fails to capitalize after he dekes around his opponents. Makes it look very easy when taking the puck through the neutral zone with speed and ease. He loves to forecheck and is constantly hunting for the puck in the offensive zone, waiting for the optimal time to pounce along the half-wall. When he is hunting for the puck, he always seems to display quality pressure and it can be a challenge for opponents to get around him.  Shows nice two-way abilities and backchecks well but could put a little bit more effort into a consistent defensive game.  He needs to work on his physical play and should work on getting stronger. Very smart overall player that should continue to round out his game as he matures.

– FCHockey’s 2020 NHL Draft Guide