"Denisenko was electric, to say the least," McCabe said. "He created a lot offensively. He's got a great shot and is quick in transition. He really had a good showing over there. I would expect him to perform very well for Russia at the World Juniors."
Denisenko, who plays for Yaroslavl Lokomotiv in the KHL, spent the majority of last season in the MHL, Russia's top junior league, recording 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists) in 31 games. In the playoffs, he potted five goals in 12 games to lead Loko Yaroslavl to a league championship.
At 5-foot-11 and 176 pounds, Denisenko has spent time in both the KHL and MHL this season, recording one goal and two assists in four games with Yaroslavl's junior club and three goals in 15 games with their pro team. At the Junior Club World Cup, he had four points in five games.
"He's explosive, and that's exactly what we drafted him for," Panthers President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Dale Tallon said. "It was a need that we had on the wing. He plays with great intensity and speed. He's got high skill, but also some physicality to his game as well. It's just a matter of time before he makes his mark."
Like Denisenko, Heponiemi is also putting his size to the test against grown men for the first this season. After registering an astronomical 204 points (56 goals, 148 assists) in just 129 regular-season games over two seasons with Swift Current in the WHL, it was clearly time for a change.
Listed at 5-foot-10 and 148 pounds - although it's believed he's packed on some size since his last official weigh-in - Heponiemi is proving that skill trumps size during his first season back in his native country's top pro circuit, Liiga. In 21 games with first-place Karpat, which captured the league championship last season, he is tied for the team's scoring lead with 18 points (four goals, 14 assists) - the most among Liiga rookies.
A gifted and creative playmaker, Heponiemi's 14 assists are also tied for the league lead.
"The concern with him was the size, but that's not an issue anymore," Tallon said. "He's gotten a lot stronger, but it hasn't affected his skills and his vision and his ability to make plays. He's a multi-dimensional player."
But has the ease of Heponiemi's transition from the junior to pro ranks surprised Tallon?
Of course not.
"It might be even easier for him playing better players or more veteran players," he said. "He sees his teammates so well. He's so unselfish, is a great passer and has really great vison."
Looking ahead, Tallon said he is excited to see how both prospects perform at next month's World Juniors in Vancouver, as both are projected to make their country's tournament rosters.
"It'd be great to see," said Tallon, who will attend the annual tournament. "I hope they make their teams and excel when they're there."
