NHL Draft 2012 Prospects: #22 Andrei Vasilevski

The draft, hands down, is the best time of the hockey season. Maybe I'm just saying that because the Wild haven't been seen post-season action since 2008, but that is besides the point.

So, on June 22nd-23rd, we will all sit down in front of the television/computer and watch the draft. But if you are wondering, "who's who", then you haven't been reading HW because thats my job.

So without further ado:

Introducing our 2012 NHL #22 Draft Prospect - Andrei Vasilevski

Accomplishments & Awards:

Prospect Jersey (What Would They Look Like In a Wild Jersey?)

Summarized Scouting Report

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

HW Projection:

Video Evidence:

Where Does He Fit In The Wild?

We never need goalies. Does the Wild even have a Russian scout?

Conclusion

Oh, the annual falling Russian because he's in Russia. Grigorenko has a little bit of that but he's playing in the Q so a bit of the factor is sort of forgotten.

Vasilevski is an extremely talented goaltender who is big, athletic, moves well, and is extremely calm under pressure, that is everything you want in a starting goalie.

Of course, like any young goaltender, he will need a bit of time to refine his game and adjust to quicker and more challenging opponents, but Vasilevski is pretty much your ideal goaltending prospect.

Now to the flaw: he's Russian playing in Russia.

With all the contract conflicts that have been seen throughout the years, it is not different in this goalie's case. And say he DOES come over to North America, the new rule by the KHL that "returning Russian NHLers will not count against the salary cap" makes contract negotiation in the next 5 years all the more hectic and unsure.

As a team that wants stability in their organization, will Vasilevski be worth your first round selection?

Special thanks to HFBoards, Future Considerations, The Hockey Writers, TSN, OHLProspeccts and The Scouting Repor