2024 Columbus Blue Jackets Draft Projections: Anton Silayev
THN's own Ryan Kennedy released his Mid-Term 2024 NHL Draft Rankings: The First Round Projection on The Hockey News main site in February. And it got us thinking, who in the top 5 should the CBJ draft?
Anton Silayev - Defense - Torpedo(KHL)
When NHL Central Scouting came out with their final rankings, Anton Silayev was listed as the number-one International Skater, overtaking former number-one Konsta Helenius, the young center from Finland. Ryan Kennedy has him at #2, Bob McKenzie has him at #2, and FloHockey has him at #4.
In his article from February Kennedy says about Silayev:
Anton Silayev, D, Torpedo (Rus.): The potential with Silayev is just too great to ignore. A 6-foot-7 defenseman who can skate and chip in on offense? Yes, please. Silayev was a point-per-gamer early in the season before cooling off, but his game is so alluring - plus he's being coached by 'The Professor,' Igor Larionov, in the KHL.
Stats: Silayev played 63 games for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod last season in the KHL. He scored 3 goals and had 11 points.
Measurements: 6-foot-7, 207lbs
What Scouts Are Saying
hockeywiz777scouting.com - There’s no other way to look at it, Anton Silayev is legit. He’s equally been playing on his off-side, and excelling on the right. Silayev lit up KHL scoresheets for the first month of the season and garnered a fair bit of attention, but fell back down to earth, and became the defensive stalwart that he has become known as. While he remains very raw, especially for a defenseman playing in the KHL as a draft-eligible, his tools are rather unique and the ceiling is high.
capfriendly.com - It's not too often a 'defensive defenceman' is as highly touted as Silayev, but he's deserving of a top-five ranking for this draft and could go as high as second overall. He's a massive defender who takes advantage of his stature, and long reach, to keep opponents away from his crease. He's also a fantastic skater who has no problem defending against a speed rush, or moving in and out of small areas with his excellent agility. Silayev won't provide much offensively, but his ability to kill plays defensively and move pucks from his zone will contribute greatly to team success.
mckeenshockey.com - It’s not hard to notice Silayev on the ice - or anywhere else for that matter - thanks to his ridiculous height. But what you don’t expect is his mobility. Quite often, players of Silayev’s size struggle with their mobility and need to rely on other aspects of their game to find success (physicality, strength, stick reach). That couldn’t be further from the truth for the defenseman. He moves so well, especially considering his size. He can walk the blue line with ease, lead the transition game, and attack with the rush without notice. He uses it in the defensive end too, surprising attackers by quickly taking space away from them.
This one is a tough call, but he could be worth the wait. Unfortunately, he wouldn't be able to come to North America until 2026 due to his KHL contract. That would put him at 20 years old, having at least three years of professional experience before stepping foot on an NHL rink. Some say David Jiříček may have benefitted from such a path before coming to North America.
A lot of people are conflicted as to who and what the Jackets should draft. A highly touted offensive player, or a top defender. One thing is for certain, I think this draft class is severely underrated. Yes, Macklin Celebrini is the clear number-one pick, but many of the players under him could be stars.
More From THN Columbus
Join Jason Newland's Columbus Blue Jacket page on Bunches, a new app that connects sports fans. Also, you can watch a new YouTube game show about the Blue Jackets, Around the Fifth Line.