Maxim Agafonov – 2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile

Agafonov won’t stand out with his offensive game, even if he has some interesting puck-moving skills that sooner or later will bear some fruit. Mostly, he will use his excellent gap control and stick work to prevent offensive plays to find the crease or his good skating to cover the opposition in quick transitions. He could improve his positioning, but that can come with more proper coaching.

Agafonov is not an overly physical player, but not because he lacks that component; it’s more due to the fact that he has other weapons in his arsenal, namely his good defensive instincts and good mobility. The Moscow native can be a good project pick for a solid second-to-third pairing defenseman, mostly with defensive duties.

Other THW Draft Profiles

Maxim Agafonov – NHL Draft Projection

Considering his lack of offensive potential, Agafonov is now looking more like a project pick. While it’s always hard to project a round for international players, Agafonov should hear his name called in the mid-rounds, something around the fourth or the fifth. It’s expected that more than one team will be intrigued by his combination of size, mobility, and defensive play.

Quotables

“Agafonov’s physical profile as a 6-foot-2, right-hand shot defender is inherently interesting. He could be a bottom-pair defender at the NHL level.” – Daniel Gee, Elite Prospects

“Unlike the typical calculated defensive defender, he sometimes strays from the ideal positioning but always finds a way to get the job done, whether through a last-ditch effort to strip the puck from a forward or by handling situations down low around the net despite less-than-ideal circumstances. No matter how often I worry he might get beat, he almost never does — a rare quality in a player this young. He is also a strong skater and puck-mover, effectively transitioning the puck to forwards and rarely making mistakes in his own zone that could lead to turnovers.” – Samuel Tirpak, Future Considerations

Strengths

Under Construction – Improvements to Make

NHL Potential

Agafonov’s chances are tied to his defensive game and his ability to improve at least a little bit on his offensive skills. He has all the potential to become a third-pairing d-man in the NHL, but may get surpassed by those with more of an offensive presence. However, a right-handed defenseman with some size and a good eye for the correct defensive play will never be out of fashion.

Risk/Reward Analysis

Risk: 3/5 Reward: 4/5

Fantasy Hockey Potential

Offense: 4/10 Defense: 7/10

Awards/Achievements

Maxim Agafonov Stats