Washington Capitals: 5 College Hockey Players They Should Sign
Oleg Yevenko
Oleg Yevenko (from Belarus) is a very unique player. When I first watched him play for the University of Massachusetts, the first thing I noticed was his incredible size. He’s listed as 6’7″. When I first saw him in 2011, he was sort of awkward. He was really tall, but he couldn’t have weighed more than 180 pounds. Fast forward to 2015, depending on who you ask, he’s anywhere from 230 pounds to 250. Despite his weight (I think he’s closer to 250 than 230), he has a rather nice frame and certainly isn’t bulky like one might expect.
The Washington Capitals could use someone like him. Despite his size, he has nice footwork. He’s not the quickest skater, but he more than makes up for it with his unfair range. Here’s what Hockeys Future has to say about him:
"Yevenko, who serves as one of the Minutemen’s assistant captains, has posted five points (all assists) in 33 games. He leads UMass with 72 blocked shots and ranks second on the team with 49 penalty minutes. Yevenko is a physical, defensive defenseman who uses his enormous frame, strength and especially long reach quite well in taking away space and shutting down opposing players. He is one of the nation’s best shot-blockers and excels on the penalty kill. Although Yevenko doesn’t rack up many points, he does have some offensive ability. He possesses a very heavy shot and can get pucks to the net. His passing skills are also quite good. In addition to his sheer size, scouts have also taken notice of Yevenko’s physicality. He does an excellent job of finishing his checks and can deliver some bone-jarring hits. While most collegiate players add size to improve their game, it has been the opposite for Yevenko. His combination of a lighter frame and vastly improved skating has allowed him to be a more mobile and effective rearguard, which can be seen in his stepped-up transition game. Although Yevenko lacks foot speed, he still moves well for a big man."
I think the Washington Capitals should roll the dice on this kid. Why not? Let him develop his offense in Hershey and see if he can be a legitimate defenseman. After all, you can’t teach size.
Next: A man with no position