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Prospect Update: Sasha Pastujov

Photo: USA Hockey

By Thomas Harrington

A third round pick from 2021, winger Sasha Pastujov just completed his first season in the OHL, playing for the Guelph Storm.

Originally, the plan for Pastujov was to play at Notre Dame, which had long been his dream school. However, after talking with Todd Marchant and the Ducks, Pastujov made the decision to play for Guelph in the OHL instead. In the OHL, he would get to play significantly more hockey, really work on his overall game, and improve his weaknesses, especially his skating. The move to the OHL was almost an instant success, as Pastujov came roaring out of the gate with a hat trick in his second game. After being scoreless in the first game of the season, he recorded 17 points in his next eight games.

For his early season efforts, Pastujov was named the OHL Player of the Month for October. He played well after that but definitely cooled off as the season went on, though he did have a nine-game point streak in March. Overall, he finished the season with 34 goals and 76 points in 65 games. While it was disappointing to see his offense dry up somewhat in the second half of the season, he still had a great first season in the OHL. He led Guelph in goals, assists, points, powerplay goals, powerplay assists, and powerplay points, and finished in the top 30 in goals, assists, and points in the OHL. He was named Guelph’s team MVP.

There was really only one blemish on Pastujov’s great season: the playoffs. Guelph faced off against the Soo Greyhounds in the first round and were defeated in five games. Pastujov played in four games and was scoreless, and was also suspended after game four.

Pastujov was named to Team USA when the World Juniors were originally played back in December. He played in one game and was scoreless before the original tournament was canceled. When it was rescheduled for August, he once again played for Team USA. In five games, Pastujov scored a goal and four points while primarily being used on the team’s fourth line.

Pastujov isn’t the best skater, but he’s got a ton of offensive skill. It was actually surprising to see him fall to the third round, but the Ducks were happy to grab him when he was still available. He’s never going to look like Cam Fowler skating on the ice, but the Ducks would be just fine if his skating was equitable with Corey Perry and he had similar hands.

Pastujov is an interesting player because he changed his development path from the NCAA to the OHL. One season in and that looks to be a great change for him. The OHL is known as an offensive league, and Pastujov certainly fit right in this past season. He’ll be back in the OHL this coming season and will hopefully be even better.

I have a few expectations for Pastujov this coming season. First, for him to put up better offensive numbers this year than he did last year. Second, for him to continue to improve his skating. Barb Underhill is Guelph’s skating coach, and she’s known to significantly improve a skater’s ability at all levels. If she can turn Pastujov into an NHL skater, the Ducks could have a great prospect on their hands. Third, for him to play at the World Juniors for Team USA again and have a larger role on the team. Finally, and to me this is even more important, is for him to be more consistent this season than last year. Pastujov was still good at the end of the season, but he was great in the first couple of months, arguably the best player in the OHL for stretches early on. Of his 18 multi-point games, nine of them were in October and November.

I think Pastujov is two to three years away from having a shot at the NHL. He’s got another year of juniors ahead of him, and then I think he’ll be with San Diego for most of, if not all of, the 2023-2024 season. If he can truly dominate the OHL this coming year, or dominate the AHL once he joins the Gulls, then he could be in Anaheim in the 2023-2024 season, but I think at best he’ll get a game or two with the Ducks and be looking for more NHL time in the 2024-2025 season. If he can come up and have an amazing camp with the Ducks before this season, maybe they give him a game or two at the start of the season before he goes back to juniors, but it’s going to take a great camp from him for that to happen. The Ducks did that with Mason McTavish last year and Max Comtois in the 2018-2019 season, and I think it helped their development process.

Pastujov is currently signed to his entry-level contract, and it won’t begin until he either plays 10 games with Anaheim or his junior career ends. So the Ducks have control of his rights for at least the next three years, and in all likelihood the next four. If he can continue his offensive ascent in the OHL and then transfer those skills to the AHL and eventually the NHL, the Ducks will absolutely sign him to an extension when the time comes.

The next prospect update will be on Olen Zellweger.

Related Articles:

Prospect Update: Trevor Janicke

Prospect Update: Jacob Perreault

Prospect Update: Artyom Galimov

Prospect Update: Albin Sundsvik

Prospect Update: Sam Colangelo

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September 24th, 2022

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