I picked up Grachevs 4 goal game from the 17th November to get a see a display of his skills!
Grachev played LW on Bramptons 2nd line with Matt Duschene (who is awsome). And he (Gra) really is a tall man!
It was very impressive to see him play. It was natrually a big night for him, and Ottawa was very tired after 3 in 4 nights.
Grachev is more of a roleplayer, then like a complete 2-way player. But he do have many strength. He is dangerous on the rush. He is nifty with the puck in the attacking zone. He got so good reach and quick feet so that he often breaks away from D's in the attacking zone.
When it comes to his skating he isn't like stationary at all. He got quick and agile feets. He is very impressive in small areas though for someone his length.He also got fairly good acceleration and a long and power ful stride over the length of the ice. What he do lack is that floating stride -- which probably will keep him away from the center position from now on in his career. Like he doesn't have that type of skating like a Blair Betts for example, like who can come into his zone on the back check, pick up a loose puck and curve and break out of his own zone. Grachev with his tall body looses speed in thoose situations, and often stops and accelerates instead. That means that he is often dependant of his center to get him involved. That also means that he isn't a player who is involved every shift. And I don't think thoose aspects is something that he really can work on. And if he had that in him, he would have gone like 3rd overall instead of in the 3rd round... Its not a major deal, he could still become a 1st line player. But I don't see him in a "goto role". Think more Johan Franzen then Zetteberg so to speak!
With the puck, he is pretty good. He got allot of moves in him. He got a good wrister atleast. I think he plays a good game with the puck; a good bias between shooting and passing; between stickhandling with the puck and making a safe play; he is fairly good at protecting it, like not a monster with the puck, but that could definitly come with time. His playmaking and sniping isn't top notch though. They are okey for a world class player so to speak. He doesn't have that special vision or wicked shot, yet atleast.
Overall I think this is a player who would fit in perfectly next to a Scott Gomez in the future. Grachev fits the NYRs perfectly. He could become their Johan Franzen so to speak. He is good and smart with the puck. He can be a threat on the rush. He can finnish. And his biggest strength could become his strength on the puck if he can fill out.
I would say that Grachev ought to have been like atleast a 25-30th overall pick in his draft year. Thats how good he is. And he could jump into the 15-20th cathegory in a hurry "in my eyes" if he can keep playing at such a high level in like the WJC, against better opponents. Its just not the fact that the opponents isn't as strong as like in the AHL, in the OHL, he could have some issues getting involved and protecting the puck at higher levels. There is a risk for that. Like with Matt Duschene I would have had zero concerns for that.
