“Ilya is more explosive. He can do things with the puck. When he gets a step on a defenseman, he’s gone. It’s really unfathomable to watch him handle the puck.”
—Former Thrasher Ray Ferraro

-“His skill level is what gets your attention and then the more you watch him, the more you like the way he not only goes around players, but the way he goes through and over his opponents.”
—Thrashers GM Don Waddell

“You can’t play one-on-one in this league, no matter how good you are. But what a different player this guy is compared to Pavel Bure or somebody else. He gets involved. He goes to the net hard. He goes to those high-traffic areas where a lot of players in this league don’t.”
—Former Thrashers head coach Curt Fraser

-“He’s all offense all the time.”
—Thrashers TV analyst Darren Eliot 

“I wish we had more players in the league like him. Every time he gets the puck he makes you nervous.”
—Sharks GM Wayne Thomas

“It’s a lot of fun to play with a guy like that. He creates a lot by himself. He opens up the ice so much. You’re like, ‘How did he pull that off?’”
—Thrashers wing Serge Aubin

“Ilya gets his shot off from everywhere. He can wait out a goalie and pick holes that I can’t see.”
—Thrashers right wing Jeff Odgers

“He’s either laughing or he’s pissed. His passion gauge explodes every game.”
—Thrashers coach Bob Hartley

“The Bobby Hull of this era, the number one attraction in the NHL.”
—Blue Jackets head coach and GM Doug MacLean