No. 8 Igor Chernyshov: San Jose's next power forward?

"After all, there was a lot going against the forward. Not only was he adjusting to North American ice after playing his entire life in Russia, but he started the season on the injured list. He had shoulder surgery before training camp and spent the first couple of months after the draft healing. There were a lot of factors working against Chernyshov, and it would have been easy for him to write the season off as a wash."

"But instead of doing that, the forward had surgery in August and then headed to Saginaw to spend time with his new teammates on the Saginaw Spirit. It was a good plan because he was then primed to jump back into play on Jan. 30, 2025, and immediately made an impact. Chernyshov scored two goals in his first game back and went on to be impactful in almost every subsequent game."

"Chernyshov has incredible skill for a player of his size. What makes him so special is that he's not about bullying his way with the puck the way so many big men do. Instead, he uses his tool set, which includes high-end puck handling, NHL-level skating and a solid hockey IQ to put himself in the best position to succeed. Yes, he has the size that general managers love, but when you add the skill, he's a general manager's dream."

Igor Chernyshov adapted from a Russian development path to North American hockey while recovering from shoulder surgery and an early-season injury. He returned to play on Jan. 30, 2025, scored two goals in his first game back, and finished with 55 points in 23 regular-season games and six points in five playoff games, including three games with five points. He previously scored his first KHL goal before age 17, totaled four KHL points in 34 games in 2023–24, and posted 28 points in 22 MHL games as a 17-year-old. He pairs rare size with elite puck handling, NHL-level skating, and strong hockey IQ.

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