Scouting Report: Why the NHL Interest in Konstantin Okulov is Warranted

Konstantin Okulov. Remember that name.

Okulov’s a forward for CSKA Moscow in the KHL, and his contract is set to expire at season’s end. The NHL is already eager to pounce.

According to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston, though, Okulov has already narrowed his options down to two teams that happen to share one of the NHL’s most storied rivalries in the Montréal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs. The other 29 teams need not apply.

[Read more: EP Rinkside Prospect Pool Rankings: No. 21 Ranked Toronto Maple Leafs]

At first glance, this sort of interest in a 24-year-old winger without gaudy counting stats in the KHL might seem unwarranted. Allow me to clear the air on that — it’s not.

Despite scoring at a top-six rate over the past two seasons, Okulov continues to play around 14 minutes per game (in