What do Brett Hull and Pavel Datsyuk both have in common? They are both former sixth-round picks. Although they were taken in the late stages of their respective drafts, they went on to have Hall of Fame careers. Yes, it is far to early to tell but the Flyers are hoping a similar future awaits their recent sixth-round selection, Egor Serdyuk.
Background Info on Egor Serdyuk
Serdyuk, a Russian native, recently finished his rookie season in the QMJHL playing wing for the Victoriaville Tigres. In 63 regular season game, Serdyuk posted a very respectable 25 goals and 40 assists. Additionally, he recorded six points in 11 postseason games.
The 5-foot-10, 159-pound winger could not have had a better rookie year in the QMJHL. First off, he was selected to the QMJHL All-Rookie Team. Secondly, his 25 goals were enough for the most by any rookie in the league. Finally, he also led all rookies in scoring with his 65 points.
Serdyuk will look to build off an excellent rookie campaign with Victoriaville next season.
Areas of Strength
Egor Serdyuk’s best quality is his ability to produce goals. Scouts claim that “he has a great touch around the net” which led to him potting 25 goals last season. Additionally, his ability to find holes in the defense is top-notch. Serdyuk is equipped with a quality wrist shot and is known for deceiving goaltenders. He is also a smart player, especially in the offensive zone and is progressing as a playmaker as well.
Serdyuk is not a big player by any means. Still, he is very strong on his skates is able to protect the puck along the borns. Would he benefit from having more size? Sure; however, it is far from a detriment to his overall game.
Areas of Weakness
Tell me if you have heard this before. Although this prospect possesses great offensive ability, his skating is concerning. It seems to be the description for every goal-scoring prospect and that doesn’t change for Serdyuk. Some scouts have claimed that he does not play with a lot of pace and is always skating at the same speed. Of course, this can be a problem for a player that cannot rely on his size. However, the opportunity to improve is there and I expect Serdyuk to do so.
Another knock on Serdyuk is that he is not active enough on the ice. His compete level is not consistent and needs to work harder in all aspects of the game. Again, nothing that cannot be fixed with good coaching.
Final Thoughts
The potential to be a truly effective scorer is what makes Egor Serdyuk an intriguing draft pick. He has a lot of work to do in other aspects of his game but has plenty of time to make those improvements. If he can even bring those skill-sets to an average level, he might be in store for a successful career down the line.
Serdyuk is currently a long ways away from taking the next step in his career. For him, it’s all about increasing his role and eventually becoming “the guy” for Victoriaville. Still, it’s impossible to ignore the potential this kid has and will be an interesting prospect to keep an eye on.
Mandatory Credit: Denis Morin/Tigres de Victoriaville
