Names To Know: Danila Yurov Is Considered A Top 10 Talent In Upcoming Draft, But Might He Fall Right Into The Blue Jackets Hands at No. 12?

Welcome to the 15th installment of 'Names To Know', a look-ahead at prospects who the Columbus Blue Jackets could select in the upcoming NHL Draft.

The Blue Jackets hold two first-round draft picks—No. 6 and No. 12–providing the club with the opportunity of bolstering its talent on the ice now and into the future.

Today's prospect to watch out for is 18-year-old Danila Yurov, a highly-skilled right wing from Russia. He's 6-foot-1, 178 pounds, and an interesting player to keep your eyes on.

In 2021-22, Yurov played for Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk in the MHL (Russian junior league), and Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the KHL. For Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk, he scored 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists) in 23 games and had a goal in two playoff games.

For Metallurg Magnitogorsk, Yurov failed to register a point in 21 games, though the talk is his ice-time was limited in the KHL. He did not have a point in 19 playoff games. Yurov scored a goal in two games for Russia in the world juniors before the tournament was canceled because of COVID.

He was a point-per-game player in 2020-21, scoring 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 23 games for Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk.

Danila Yurov with back-to-back 4 point games.
2+2 today.

He's got 17 points in his last 8 games.
34 points in 21 games. #MHL pic.twitter.com/ESrMRPIwz2

— Hockey News Hub (@HockeyNewsHub) February 17, 2022

While Yurov is considered by many to be a top 10 talent in the upcoming NHL draft, his status may be in question due to the ongoing conflict with Russia in the Ukraine War.

This is why Sportsnet listed him as a wild card in their mock draft, even noting his top 10 talent.

Per NHL.com, one scout compared Yurov's game to Hockey Hall of Famer Marian Hossa. Tankathon has Columbus selecting Yurov with the 12th pick. The Athletic had him going 16th in their recent mock draft, also acknowledging his talent but citing any potential problems for the Russian trying to secure a visa.

The Athletic's Scott Wheeler is high on Yurov, considering him one of his favorites in the upcoming draft class, and is enamored by his skillset.

"If you were to fill up two buckets with his tools (one for the strengths, one for the weaknesses) and place them on a scale, the bucket with his strengths in it would be overflowing and the one with his weaknesses would be near-empty," Wheeler said.

In Wheeler's May 10 article for The Athletic, he also said Yurov is almost a certainty to fall out of the top 10 due to the Russian conflict and listed Columbus among the teams Yurov could land with.

"Columbus, in particular, is already in the process of bringing over two top Russians: Kirill Marchenko and then Dmitri Voronkov (after having just brought over Yegor Chinakhov). That would be a bold move at No. 12, but Jarmo Kekalainen isn’t shy," Wheeler said.

Corey Pronman of The Athletic ranked Yurov as the ninth-best prospect, and just ahead of another right wing we covered on Tuesday in Jonathan Lekkerimaki.

Analysis: Yurov’s skill stands out when you watch him. His stick skills and overall creativity with the puck are high end. He’s a good skater and shows excellent ability to beat defenders with speed or with dekes. He also shows great skill in tight spaces to maintain possession. Yurov can make plays but I wouldn’t call his playmaking as dynamic as his stickhandling. He’s not overly physical but Yurov works hard to create turnovers and can kill penalties. He projects as a quality top-six winger.