NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING RANK: No. 1 European Skater

Born: 1-15-1989
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 183 lbs
Position: Right Wing
Shoots: Left
Last Team: Avangard Omsk

Central Scouting Report: An offensive winger with great acceleration and a nose for the net... has a quick release and can shoot at top speed... has good puckhandling and makes good decisions with the puck... works hard at both ends of the ice... doesn't shy away from being hit, but needs to add a physical presence to his game and improve his consistency from game to game.

2006-07 Season: Set a record for goals by a Russian Super League rookie (18), surpassing Pavel Bure's record (17) set in 1988-89 with the Red Army (CSKA Moscow)… his 29 points as a 17-year-old are more than the totals recorded by Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin, Washington's Alex Ovechkin and Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk in their first year in the Russian Super League… won a silver medal with Team Russia at the 2007 World Junior Championships.

What they're saying: "Cherepanov has been sensational in the Russian league during the fall. … Scored points in seven games in a row in October – on his way to beat records scored by Malkin and Ovechkin! … He has excellent hockey sense, excellent soft hands and is very smart on ice. … Has a good selection of shots. … Plays with passion and great attitude. … Could be the next Russian superstar." – Denis Neznanov, as reported by NHL Central Scouting.