With the 124th overall draft selection in the 2017 NHL Draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs have selected 19-year-old Russian forward Vladislav Kara.
With an April 1998 birthdate, the 6’1, 187-pound Kara was passed over in last year’s draft. He split the 2016-17 season between the VHL with Bars Kazan and the MHL with Irbis Kazan. In the MHL (the Russian junior league), he posted 11 goals and 20 points in 31 games and a further five points in seven playoff games.
Kara was unranked by all of the major scouting services.
Mark Hunter’s Take
A big, strong winger that plays a two-way game and can handle pucks. He drives the net.
Vladislav Kara Statistics
| SEASON | TEAM | LEAGUE | GP | G | A | TP | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | Draguny Mozhaysk | MHL B | 40 | 21 | 27 | 48 | 109 | -14 |
| HK Trnava U18 | Slovakia U18 2 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 24 | 22 | |
| Russia U17 (all) | International-Jr | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2015-16 | Ak Bars Kazan U18 | Russia U18 | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Irbis Kazan | MHL | 41 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 7 | |
| 2016-17 | Bars Kazan | VHL | 34 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 4 | -7 |
| Irbis Kazan | MHL | 31 | 11 | 9 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
