Dimitri Yushkevich #36
His Childhood hockey hero was Vladislav
Tretiak. His greatest thrill in hockey was capturing a
Gold Medal at the ‘92 Olympics.
He was originally the Flyers' sixth-round
selection, 122nd overall in the 1991 Entry Draft. He was then traded
to Toronto on August 30th 1995. And he is now ready to help the leafs
Kick some ASS in the 99-00 season with his great defensive talent!
Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Dimitri Yushkevich
(36) sends Pittsburgh Penguins
centre German Titov (9) flying with a hit behind
Leafs goaltender Curtis Joseph (31)
during first period NHL Eastern Conference Semi-Final
game 5 action in Toronto on
Saturday May 15.(CP PHOTO/Frank Gunn)
Height:
5-11
Weight: 208 lbs.
Born:
November 19, 1971 in Yaroslavl, USSR
Drafted:
Selected
by the Philadelphia Flyers in the sixth round (122nd pick overall) of the
1991 NHL Entry Draft.
Acquired: Traded by the Philadelphia Flyers
with 1996 second-round pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs for 1996 first-
and fourth-round picks and 1997 second-round pick on Aug. 30, 1995.
Source: Hockey Scouting Report
http://espn.go.com/nhl/profiles/profile/0523.html
The
Finesse Game
When Yushkevich pulls eveything
together mentally and physically, he steps up into a level that isn't elite
but is
a solid "B" game. It's just frustrating
that he does so infrequently. Yushkevich is a good skater with a decent
shot. He is strong and well-balanced on his feet. He can move laterally,
pivot and put on a short burst of speed, or sustain a rush the
length of the rink. Occasionally
he can be beaten with outside speed, but it takes a pretty good skater
to do
it. Yushkevich doesn't react quickly
enough in game situations. He is still fairly young for a defenseman but
has enough experience to play better
than he does. The problem is part reads and part stubbornness. He
can work the point on a second power-play unit and
will kill penalties.
The
Physical Game
Yushkevich is very fit and, if asked,
can play 30 minutes a game. He'll grind. When the mood strikes him, he
can play with an edge and use his
body to win puck battles. He can hit to hurt and can be annoying to play
against.
Maple Leafs Dimitri Yushkevich scraps with Pittburgh Penguin German Titov in the
two teams first confrence semi-final match-up.
photographer Stan Behal, Toronto Sun
Dimitri's Career Stats
