Prospects Perspective: Nov. 30

Goaltenders typically require the longest timeline for developing into NHL players compared to forwards and defensemen. It's one reason why promising goaltenders can be selected in later rounds.
Semyon Vyazovoi, the Kraken's sixth-round pick in last July's NHL Entry Draft, doesn't turn 19 until February. He is delivering impressive numbers in Russia's top juniors league and making the selection look wise.

Vyazovoi is 14-5-1 in 20 games played with a .942 save percentage and 1.69 goals against average. He has posted four shutouts, including two in his last three appearances. The other recent game was a 4-3 overtime loss in which Vyazovoi stopped 36 of 40 shots on goal.
At 6-foot-2, 169 pounds, the young goalie is likely still developing both his physical size and on-ice skills.
Vyazovoi's results are building off a strong 2020-21 season with his club, Tolpar Ufa, the Russian Junior Hockey League, aka MHL (Russian initials). He played 26 games last season, turning in a 14-9-1 record with a save percentage of .939, goals-against average of 2.06 and three shutouts.
Here's a roundup of other Kraken 2021 draft picks and developing pros playing for the team's American Hockey League affiliate Charlotte Checkers:

Draft choices

Matty Beniers(2021, 1st round, 2nd overall). Seattle's top prospect leads his University of Michigan (10-4-0) team with 11 goals. On Tuesday, he was invited to the Team USA training camp later this month in preparation for the upcoming 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship to be played Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. Beniers helped the Americans win gold last January and will look to be a leading member of the squad hoping to attain back-to-back titles for the first time ever in Team USA's World Junior history.
Ryker Evans (2021 2nd round, 35th overall) - Evans continues a strong season for the Regina Pats (9-12) of the Western Hockey League. Evans is Regina's leading scorer with four goals and 18 assists in 21 games.
Ryan Winterton(2021 3rd round, 67th overall) - Winterton is rehabbing a shoulder injury and not yet active for the Ontario Hockey League Hamilton Bulldogs.
Ville Ottavainen (2021 4th round) - The 18-year-old defenseman is playing top-pair minutes for his Finnish pro team. He has three goals and three assists in 25 games.
Jacob Melanson (2021 5th round) - Melanson's Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team won 8-3 this past Sunday with Melanson scoring two power play goals. The 5-11, 201-pound forward has 12 goals and 18 overall points in 21 games; both rank second on the team.
Justin Janicke(2021 7th round) - After NCAA opponent Boston College postponed a game last weekend to take precautions related the COVID-19 pandemic, Janicke's No. 8 Notre Dame team returns to play with two games this weekend against No. 17 Ohio State. Janicke, a freshman, has notched two assists in nine games.

Developing Pros Roundup

Kraken prospect Alexander True remains the Charlotte Checkers' leading scorer with seven goals and eight assists in 19 games. He is centering the top line and getting time on the power play. Fellow forward Max McCormick has scored six goals (including a recent game-winner).
Kraken developing pros Kole Lind and Cale Fleury assisted on McCormick's decisive goal while Fleury also assisted on an earlier-game score by since-recalled Riley Sheahan.
Defenseman Connor Carrick, who impressed in Seattle's preseason, leads all Checkers defensemen with two goals and six assists for eight total points. Fleury closely follows with a goal and six assists.
Since being reassigned to Charlotte after two starts for the Kraken, goalie Joey Daccord has impressed his coach and teammates alike. The most recent example happened to be a 1-0 loss to Utica, which was 12-1 going in the weekend contest.
"[Daccord] had a 2-on-0 where he made an unbelievable save," said Checkers head coach Geordie Kinnear. "You want to reward his work by coming back and scoring one, and we didn't."
"He's a good goalie," said Charlotte forward Zac Dalpe. "The way that Daccord plays the puck - it's so easy to break out and you don't spend a lot of time in your end."