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Grand Rapids Griffins' Evgeny Svechnikov has seen an improvement in his play of late.

(Allison Farrand | MLive.com)

GRAND RAPIDS - Evgeny Svechnikov may not make it up to the Detroit Red Wings this season, but "he's getting pretty close" in the opinion of Grand Rapids Griffins coach Todd Nelson.

The 19th overall pick in the 2015 draft provided the only goal for the Griffins on Friday in a 4-1 loss to San Jose, continuing a recent surge of three goals in four games.

"I don't want to put a timeline on it, but like I've said before he's progressing faster than other players I've had," Nelson said. "We'll see what the rest of the season looks like, or early next year. He's still young and there's things he has to learn, but he's getting pretty close."

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Svechnikov has improved on in his puck management, especially maintaining control and his aggressiveness in the corners. And the maddening penalties have declined. He led the team early on in penalties, but he has two minors his past 10 games with 36 minutes in 41 games.

"I thought he played good (Friday)," Nelson said. "San Jose likes to play man on man in the D zone and you really saw Geno play to his strength where he was strong in the corners, winning puck battles and hanging onto the puck more than he ever has."

Svechnikov, with 13 goals and 23 points, is pleased with his progress.

"I try to learn," he said. "I think I learned a lot (early in the season) and coaches and guys tell me what to do and the right way, and about penalties and not reaching and stuff. But, at the same time, I have more confidence and I'm trying to shoot more and something good will happen."

With his uptick in goals has come an increase in shots - 13 in the past three games.

"He's coming along really well," said seventh-year pro Ben Street. "There's some nights where you kind of want to pull your hair out and other nights where you watch him and your eyes pop out of your head.

"He's learning and getting better and better. The bulk of his games now are really positive and he's starting to create and feel more comfortable in the dirty areas of the ice."