Nikita Artamonov

2025-07-11

Scout: Tony

Skating:

Nikita is a very good skater, he has good edges, However needs to work on explosiveness and speed.

Passing/Handling:

Nikita is very good passer and puck handler, he is almost too willing to pass off to a teammate. Although being such a young player in KHL it is not surprising . I like his coach is The professor.

Shooting:

This probably the weakest part of Nikita's game. I'm not sure if it is being a young player in KHL and not enough confidence. He will need to work on this

IQ (Vision, Anticipation, Panic/Poise):

Nikita has good vision and IQ, He is able to find open teammates and make creative plays to get them the puck. There is some panic in the Higher KHL.

Forechecking:

Nikita actually does fore check he has a good work ethic in both zones, hounding the puck.

Defense:

Nikita works hard to get the puck in the defensive zone. Hopefully he will continue this. It should fit well with the Canes.

Best Asset:

I would say his work ethic is his best asset. A 2 way player.

Biggest Concern:

Nikita's shooting and and explosive skating are 2 areas of concern

Top Tier/Role Potential:

Tier 2/Top six with PP and PK time

Justification for Top Tier Assessment:

Nikitia's work ethic ability to pass the puck and willingness to play both ends of the ice

50th Percentile Tier/Role:

Tier 3/ Bottom 6 some PK time

Justification for 50th Percentile Tier Assessment:

His work ethic, but offensive side of game does not develop in NHL

Stylistic Comparable:

I would say Kris Draper, with possible higher offensive upside

Scouts Final Thoughts and Additional Stats/Info:

Nikita could be mentioned some other good Russian players ( Mitchov/Demidov) if everything breaks right.

Games Scouted:

1 KHL, 1VHL

2024-11-01

Scout: Patrick Ploch

Skating:

Artamonov is an above average skater. He has decent if not high speed, a good stride and is almost always in motion.

Passing/Handling:

Nikita is adept at handling the puck to move it up ice or in the zone and makes smart passes to teammates that facilitate play.

Shooting:

Artamonov goes to high danger zones and his smarts and hands to score goals.

IQ (Vision, Anticipation, Panic/Poise):

Nikita demonstrates good IQ in setting up plays for teammates and going to areas the puck will likely go to or that are good positions be in.

Forechecking:

Artamonov is good with his stickwork but can be muscled off the puck and his lack of physicality can leave him at a little bit of a disadvantage.

Defense:

Nikita's strong effort leads to a 200 ft game. He will skate back and separate defenders from the puck. However, he is very reliant on his stick when sometimes a combo of physicality and stickwork would be better.

Best Asset:

His hockey IQ facilitates his passing along with getting in good position for his shot.

Biggest Concern:

Either lack of high end skill or overall shooting not being good enough.

Top Tier/Role Potential:

High end 2nd liner and PP1

Justification for Top Tier Assessment:

While he has looked good in the KHL, the lack of higher speed and skill will likely limit him to the second line although he could surprise and hit the first line.

50th Percentile Tier/Role:

3rd liner and PP2

Justification for 50th Percentile Tier Assessment:

I believe the combination of skating, IQ, passing and shooting are good enough to at least be a high end 3rd liner.

Stylistic Comparable:

Nick Schmaltz may be a good stylistic comparable however Artamonov is probably likely to shoot and block a little more.

Scouts Final Thoughts and Additional Stats/Info:

Artamonov's play style seems like a great fit for the Canes' current playing style. If Brindamour is still the coach his skillset will likely help the team and endear him to the coach.

Games Scouted:

10/10 Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod v HC Metallurg Magnitogorsk, 10/24 v HC Salavat Yulaev Ufa

2023-12-31

Scout: Austin Kelly

Skating:

He's not the fastest skater, but Artamonov is good at speeding up his game with the puck, managing good bursts in transition for strong scoring chances. Graham Montgomery in Dobber's November Ranking mention on Artamonov's skating "His strong work ethic allows him to overcome an inefficient stride that ultimately limits his top speed.", which is a correct analysis, although I think he has the ability to speed up his game when needed.

Passing/Handling:

Strong playmaker who can use his speed to create passing chances in transition, but his best passing comes from utilizing his teammates to create a heavy passing game in opposing defensive zones. He's quite confident with the puck, rarely making mistakes, and a plus that it's in the KHL.

Shooting:

He's more of a playmaker than a shooter but Artamonov has a decent shot release and with his speed is able to quickly escape defenders and get his shot off securely. Artamonov can get shot attempts from a few different areas, he doesn't have a certain spot he seems to prefer. Many of his shot attempts come from playing the puck through his teammates, and not much from self-creation. It would be good if he can eventually create more chances by himself in the future.

IQ (Vision, Anticipation, Panic/Poise):

He's shown a lot of comfort against men with little panic and quick thinking on the ice, especially with the puck. Of course, playing for Torpedo has helped him find ice time, but it's the maturity that has been able to make Artamonov stick. He has good awareness and scanning abilities both with the puck and in terms of positioning on both sides.

Forechecking:

Decent forecheck pressure. He isn't overly dominant physically so he focuses more on being difficult to defend against with his stick, constantly trapping opponents and taking risks for puck retrievals.

Defense:

Artamonov plays decent defense. He's not overly physical but is willing to compete for pucks and attempt forechecks needed of a winger. I think it's an area he can improves on as he matures more to pro Hockey.

Best Asset:

Although he's not as flashy or menacing as Anton Silayev, who at 6'7 is difficult not to be, I'd argue Artamonov is the more consistent of the 2 Torpedo prospects, and fits more the mold of a modern NHLer with his strong skating, two-way ability & Hockey IQ. I think he's perhaps more well-rounded than having a standout skill, but if anything can be said that's best about him it's his intensity and hustle, he's constantly working and pressuring, a strong trait for one of the youngest players in the KHL right now.

Biggest Concern:

There isn't much about Artamonov that really stands out above anyone. He's a jack-of-all-trades but is there something he can make to stand out? The fact he is playing for a prospect-friendly team in Torpedo will have some questions over whether or not he's the product of a beneficial environment or an actual top prospect. The same question I asked about Lenni Hämeenaho last season, and he seems to have proven it wasn't just luck, but if he and Silayev are truly the best from this Russian crop is still up in the air.

Top Tier/Role Potential:

Middle-six forward with 15-20 Goals and 45-50 PTS at his best. Potential for 50-60 at his best with more emphasis on goalscoring along with a good defensive game and PP minutes.

Justification for Top Tier Assessment:

Artamonov is on a very prospect friendly team in Torpedo that has done well adjusting him to the KHL. If he continues to show improvements to his game, he can become a strong second-line winger, but will need to score more to do so.

50th Percentile Tier/Role:

Middle-six winger closer to the third line with the potential for 2nd PP minutes. Potential for 40-45 PTS with double digit goals.

Justification for 50th Percentile Tier Assessment:

Artamonov has the defensive capabilities to play a bottom-six role, and could be a good playmking compliment for a goal-scoring bottom-six forward to utilize his game.

Stylistic Comparable:

I can see a bit of Joonas Donskoi but with the potential for more Assists 15/30/45

Scouts Final Thoughts and Additional Stats/Info:

I think Artamonov can be a first round pick, and I see him as safer as Silayev, but being a smaller forward with just above average stats for his age, he may fall to the early 2nd, but I think there's a lot of potential for Artamonov to be a candidate for a massive growth in his DY+1.

Games Scouted:

Nikita Artamonov - 12/1/23 - vs Dynamo Moscow

Nikita Artamonov - 12/28/23 vs Lokomotiv Yaroslavl