The Flyers quite possibly made out like bandits in the 4th round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. That season they took my previous articles topic a strong, powerful scoring forward Matthew Strome with the 106th pick. Strome of course, also knows how to play in his own end due to his hockey IQ, and he is effective along the boards. Moreover, Strome will only get better as his skating continues to improve. Todays topic player who was picked right after Strome with the 107th pick, surely doesn’t have to worry about skating, as he already has plenty impressive speed with a wicked wrister to go along with it. The player I am referring too is Flyers 6’1″ 190-pound speedster prospect from Belarus, Maksim Sushko, who continued to hit the ground running once he came over from Belarus to North American hockey. This was a huge question mark since the competition in Belarus wasn’t up to snuff, like the play is over here in North America. Sushko however, answered that question rather quickly with registering 32 points in 51 games in his rookie year with the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL in 2016-17. He had 17G and 15A to reach that total. Sushko continued to answer that question in camp and pre-season for that matter with the Flyers this past year. He was seen scoring in the pre-season (Video at the end of the paragraph was from the pre-season), as he used his hockey IQ to set up down in front of the net for a deflection goal.
As stated above, Sushko has a mighty fine wrister and that’s an understatement. This man is a goal scorer/playmaker, and that can be seen as we go through his stats as well as, supply video below. Sushko, like Strome, thinks the game very well allowing him to read opposing players with the best of them to determine shoot or pass in what seems like the snap of a finger. As he continues to grow his keen hockey senses will also help him in the defensive end, which is Sushko’s weakness in his game. However, that’s no worry because that’s like most offensively minded youngsters they tend to struggle out the gate on defense. With Sushko, because of his work ethic, speed, determination, and hockey IQ, fans should have no worry as he will be able to continue to hone in the defensive part of his game. Furthermore, he has already begun to do so, as he had one of his better defensive seasons this season in his first year as Pro with the Phantoms producing a +7 rating, with 11G and 10A to go with it. As stated previously, Sushko proved he can play the North American style game of hockey. Sushko has been mighty impressive coming over from Belarus and hitting the ground running so quickly. Down below he can be seen scoring his first goal in the AHL as he goes smartly to the front of the net, and locates the puck for a sweet deflection. This is also a part of Sushko’s game that is not always talked about. Like Strome as we can see in the videos, Sushko has no trouble himself going to the front of the net, and getting in perfect position to deflect the puck for a goal or potential rebound.
Sushko due to his raw talent that had to be put together, plus the questions on the level of play he was coming from are likely the leading catalysts to why he dropped down to the fourth round in the 2017 draft. Otherwise his speed, scoring, and playmaking touch could of all arguably projected him higher than a fourth rounder that’s for sure. The Flyers are most certainly glad those questions were surrounding him entering the draft especially the one pertaining to the level of competition he grew up in, or I believe he would have been scooped up earlier in the draft.
The young prospect in Sushko has good potential, as he is a dynamic scorer and playmaker. Sushko’s quickness and wits while handling the puck make him a menace for opposing defenders as he is coming down the ice they never know whether to anticipate a pass or shot. One would think someone with that heavy of a shot would choose 9/10 to shoot the puck even if sometimes it could be the more selfish decision, which is similar to the style of how some players play like Phil Kessel. However, Sushko is nothing of the like. He is a goal scorer with a laser of a wrist shot, while also being a very good playmaker due to his top notch on ice vision. These qualities were showcased throughout his OHL career with the Owen Sound Attack, as well as, with Belarus U20 team in international play, where he was the Captain. So just like Strome, at a young age Sushko has already showcased his great leadership skills. Moving on, his three years in the juniors Sushko had 66G, 77A, for 143 points a very good stat line showcasing both his scoring touch as well as his passing ability. While in international play for Belarus’s U20 team he had 11 points in 10 games. Highlights from his 2017-18 60-point season with the Sound Attack can be seen below.
Maksim Sushko is a player who will never give up. He is sometimes in his young career caught looking in his own end but that’s not because of a lack of trying its likely the contrary. Due to his wits and high IQ, Sushko looks at times to be over processing a play on defense rather than just reading and going for it like he does consistently on plays in the offensive end. This as stated before due to his his work ethic and determination is a fix that has already seen significant progress. For a kid who came over from Belarus and scouts had their doubts on if he could translate his play; he sure as hell seems to be putting those doubts to bed at least to date. 11 goals and 10 assists as a rookie AHL player is a very solid state line especially after his junior career, and again one that Sushko is just going to continue to build on as he grows into a NHL player. Sushko is someone because of his wicked shot and playmaking ability projects as a future power play component as well, adding to the Flyers many already great threats on the PP. In terms of overall game, Sushko projects at least as a bottom 6 forward who can put the puck in the net while also making those around him on his line better due to his passing/ playmaking ability. His ceiling however due to his rocket wrister, playmaking ability, speed, and developing defense, is an effective top 6 forward who is a pesky player from the left side that will never back down from a battle just like TK is that from the right side.
To conclude in his post draft interview, Sushko had the following statement to say about who he models his game after, “I model my game after and I admire Nikita Kucherov of Tampa Bay. I like a physical style of play. I do like to give assists and try to take shots and be a better sniper and scorer.” Well oh my, just imagine if Sushko became even 80 percent of his role model that would be one hell of a player for years to come for the Orange and Black. Either way, Sushko is poised to by sometime next season, earn some playing time in the NHL as long as he keeps up his level of play in the AHL. Whether or not it’s next season remains to be seen, but he should definitely see some NHL time by 2021-22 at the latest (Although, he has the billing to be a black ace for the playoffs). To wrap it up, Sushko can be seen scoring two goals and showing off his great skill all the way back in the Sound Attacks November 2nd, 2016 game against the Colts.
