Some of you may have seen Max skate at the prospect camp. Big strong kid with good instincts. Looked good positionally but may need some strength and skate work over the next couple of years before we see him.That’s Maxim on Tiki’s left

Our friend and new correspondent Alessandro, sends us a report on Maxim Goncharov’s performance from KHL regular season match.

In the CSKA Moscow match played against Atlant Mytischi, lost 2-0, CSKA lineup featured Maxim Goncharov, a player known to Phoenix audience as he skated with the Coyotes in the July development camp.

Goncharov has been iced as second line defendeman, paired with former Nashville draftee Denis Kulyash. Depite his team’s defeat, Maxim has played a solid game. He played his usual defensive role, being paired with a very offensive blueliner like Kulyash, without avoiding rushing forward sometimes. He made no big mistakes, only a couple of minor pass errors, and only once he lost his man, when midway through the match he was surpassed by Vlasenkov, who missed the shot. He tried to be imposing along the boards, being not shy to throw the body around, but without acting exaggeratedly aggressive.

Effective also on penalty killing periods, he closed the game even, showing also his good backward skating. Good in decision making, Maxim was close to scoring at the forty-ninth minute with a big blue line slapshot. During powerplay stretches he doesn’t serve as quarterback, but more like a defensive guard in case something goes wrong during offensive effort’s setup, or as Kulyash-feeder in order to get the best from his line mate’s powerful shot.

The path to the NHL is still long, but Goncharov is quickly gaining some nice experience playing for one of the most successful teams in the Kontinental Hockey League.

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