Canadiens’ Ivan Demidov highlights top 10 NHL prospects playing in KHL

Credit: Yaroslav Neelov/KHL

If you follow prospects closely enough, you know how difficult it is for young players to get significant ice time in a European pro league.

That’s understandable because it’s a business. Just like the NHL, the KHL, SHL, Liiga, etc. are all pro hockey leagues. The emphasis is on winning now, not developing teenagers for NHL teams. These teams know that the top prospects will probably go to the NHL anyway, so they’re more worried about the players who will stick around and make them champions.

But sometimes, the young guns end up stealing the show. Some of these players are signed for a few more years, so the teams are more willing to give them ice time, while others have just become flat-out stars at such a young age.

Today, we’re looking at 10 players aged 23 and under who are standing out in the KHL – often deemed the best pro league in Europe:

Nikita Artamonov, LW, 19 (Carolina Hurricanes)

His numbers might not be totally explosive, but Artamonov has been an absolute force for the Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. The club is clinging on to a playoff spot in the Western Conference, but Artamonov has been challenging for the team scoring lead since the very beginning. The 19-year-old winger is such a smart playmaker, but he’s evolving into quite the goal-scorer, as well. He’s been one of the most productive U-20 KHLers this season and already looks to be a steal at No. 50 by the Hurricanes. You have to wonder if he ends up becoming a trade chip for the Hurricanes if they elect to make another huge splash before the deadline.

Alexander Nikishin, LHD, 23 (Carolina Hurricanes)

He’s 23, so many don’t consider the SKA St. Petersburg star a prospect anymore. But we’re counting him here today, and many are excited to see what he decides to do once his KHL contract ends in the spring. Nikishin is having a bit of a slower year offensively, but it’s hard to match seasons of 55 and 56 points – as a defenseman. His past two seasons are among the best ever seen by a KHL defender, and no blueliner is remotely close to touching his 140 points from the past three years combined. Oh, and he’s also a mobile 6-foot-4 rearguard, too – that doesn’t hurt. Many believe Nikishin can take on a big role in the NHL immediately next year, which would give the Hurricanes a massive boost.

Roman Kantserov, RW, 20 (Chicago Blackhawks)

Injuries have limited Kantserov’s total games this year. But the fact that he’s on pace for about 40 points in fewer than 50 games as a 20-year-old is a testament to his season. He had just 15 points in 53 games as a KHL rookie last year, but he needed just 17 games to tie that as a sophomore. Kantserov is a high-energy, all-around offensive threat who seems always to be making something happen with the puck. Kantserov is quite small at 5-foot-9, but he makes plays such a significant rate that some scouts think he’ll be able to overcome that at the next level. He’s still a few years away from the NHL – his KHL deal ends May 2026 – but he’s already looking like a nice value pickup at No. 44 in 2022.

Ilya Nabokov, G, 21 (Colorado Avalanche)

Nabokov was taken in his fourth year of eligibility last year after a remarkable KHL rookie season. He has posted similar numbers for Metallurg Magnitogorsk as one of the top goalies in the league, and he even has a perfect record with Russia’s national team. He routinely plays his best when he’s busier and rarely looks frazzled in the crease. Nabokov will be 22 at the end of his contract this year, and with the Avs making some big changes in the crease this year, it’ll be interesting to see if he makes the trek over to the AHL and challenges for the starting role with the Eagles.

Mikhail Gulyayev, LHD, 19 (Colorado Avalanche)

Gulyayev is averaging around 15 minutes a night with Omsk, which isn’t a lot, but he is still better than most defenders his age. He leads all U-20 defenders in scoring, has seen some power play time, and has shown flashes of what he can do with the puck. At 5-foot-10, Gulyayev is on the smaller side, but he often beats opponents with his footwork and solid hockey sense. And despite his size, it doesn’t seem like it’s too big of an issue – Gulyayev can hold his own along the boards. For now, Gulyayev is one of Colorado’s top prospects, and someone who could emerge as a decent second-pairing, puck-moving option.

Dmitri Buchelnikov, LW, 21 (Detroit Red Wings)

When Buchelnikov is thriving, so is his Vityaz KHL squad. He’s on pace for 55 points this year, which would be one of the most productive U-22 seasons in KHL history. The 5-foot-10 forward has always been a bit underrated due to his smaller frame, but he’s quick, skilled, and does excellent work with the puck. His lack of size will likely be an issue in the NHL, but Buchelnikov has boosted his draft stock in such a big way as a playmaker. Scouts are still a little mixed on him, but I like where Buchelnikov’s game is right now.

Maxim Beryozkin, RW, 23 (Edmonton Oilers)

Beryozkin is having the best season of his career so far, playing at a 45-point pace with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. A fifth-round pick in 2020, Beryozkin is a big-bodied 6-foot-4 winger who likes to hit and create offense nearly equally. The most significant knock against Beryozkin in recent years has been his average-at-best skating and it hasn’t really improved. But he is really confident with the puck and loves to shoot, and I think he’s also a decent distributor, as well. Could we see him challenge for a bottom-six scoring role with the Oilers next year? We’ll see.

Ivan Demidov, RW, 19 (Montreal Canadiens)

Demidov is having a special season. Despite some early concerns about his ice time, Demidov has managed to play at a 55-point pace throughout most of the campaign. No U-20 player has ever broken past 50. Kirill Kapriov set the gold standard with 42 points in 49 games back in 2016-17 with Salavat Yulaev Ufa. It doesn’t seem to matter whom he plays with or how much ice time he gets – Demidov is as confident as it gets and continues to find ways to produce. With two four-point efforts and another three triple nights, Demidov has established himself as one of the most exciting young prospects to come out of Europe in recent memory. Look for Demidov to play a significant role with the Canadiens as soon as October.

Anton Silayev, LHD, 18 (New Jersey Devils)

Silayev is a hulking 6-foot-7 defenseman who rose to prominence after a hot start to the 2023-24 KHL campaign. Now in his second year with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, he’s the only full-time U-19 defenseman in the league and he’s the only one to register a point, too. He’s not expected to be a high-end producer in the NHL, but he’s got the size, reach and mobility you want to see from someone his size. And, honestly, Silayev might be a better puck distributor than many give him credit for.

Yegor Zavragin, G, 19 (Philadelphia Flyers)

Zavragin stole headlines in October when he went 8-2-0 between Sochi and SKA. His numbers have trailed off a bit, but nobody can deny just how much of a difference-maker he has been on this team this year. Taken 87th overall by the Flyers in 2023, the 6-foot-2 goaltender was a star in the Russian junior and tier-2 ranks last year, and his promotion to full-time pro hockey in the top league in Europe has been impressive to watch. The fact he’s the only U-20 goalie with over 20 starts this year is remarkable, and it’ll be interesting to see if he ends up becoming a long-term option for a Flyers team that has cycled through goalies the past two years.

Other notables: Danila Yurov, RW (Minnesota Wild), Egor Surin, C (Nashville Predators), Mikhail Ilyin, RW (Pittsburgh Penguins), Daniil But, LW (Utah Hockey Club), Dmitri Simashev, D (Utah Hockey Club)