Carolina Hurricanes select Nikita Artamonov No. 50 overall in 2024 NHL Draft
Carolina Hurricanes are lucky to land Nikita Artamonov, a strong skater whose hockey sense and stick-handling capabilities are ahead of almost anyone his age.
Surprisingly physical at 5-foot-10, Artamonov spent last season with the Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo of the KHL, coached by NHL legend and Hockey Hall of Famer, Igor Larionov. One of the youngest regulars on the team, Larionov found success at both ends of the ice, keeping up defensively among a league of men and scoring 23 points in 54 games, one of the most productive seasons by an U-19 player in KHL history.
While some prospects struggle to find ice time, or even a roster spot in the Russian league, Artamonov told Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis that with help from Larionov and the rest of his coaches, he felt like he was right where he belonged.
I talked to 2024 #NHLDraft prospect Nikita Artamonov today.
He said he and Anton Silayev are roommates and are pretty close.
Artamonov said Silayev is well-regimented in everything he does – school, workouts, etc. – while he likes to go for walks all the time and stay active. pic.twitter.com/xTvJKGdiO0
— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) June 17, 2024
“I think that I deserved (to play in the KHL) because I worked hard in the summer and believed in myself,” Artamonov said. “The coaching staff also trusted me, and I tried not to let them down. I tried to do everything to meet (the) coaches’ expectations because they told me what I had to do and how I should be ready.”
One thing several analysts and scouts say is he’s got a high motor and will never be outworked, but he may need to find more ways to make himself indispensable to a club.
That being said, any highlight pack of his will showcase passes and stickhandling through the neutral and offensive zone that will make you think, “Oh yeah, that’s an NHL talent.”