With Nikita Artamonov, Andrei Krutov, Alexander Pelevin, and Torpedo-Gorky winning the VHL final, we can finally close the book on the season for all Canes Prospects in Russia and outside the NHL. It was a super fun season and I’m glad I get to cover these guys in any capacity.
With all the players the Canes have drafted from Russia over the past few years, this is going to be a looooooooooong piece, so grab some food and read about every Canes Prospect that played in Russia this past season. For easy reading, it is sorted by position group (forwards/defense/goalie) and then sorted again in alphabetical order.
Nikita Artamonov, W
The second high draft pick in 2024, Artamonov followed up a solid draft year with an even better D+1, becoming the highest goal scoring U20 player in KHL history while also helping VHL side Torpedo-Gorky win the VHL Championship. In 67 games in the KHL, Artamonov had 22 goals and 17 assists for 39 points, which has him 5th all time for points in a single season by a U20 player.
He was downright great for Torpedo this year, as he led the entire team in points. He was moved up and down the lineup, even getting healthy scratched and being the 13th forward a couple times. When he was given consistent playing time, he was a high energy forward with a nose for aggressive forechecking. After Torpedo’s KHL season was over, he went and helped the VHL side to the VHL championship, chipping in 7 assists in 18 games.
Outlook for 2025/26: Another big year for Torpedo at the KHL level. It’ll be interesting to see what happens after next season, since his contract expires after the season.
Fyodor Avramov, W
The player nicknamed “Uncle” had a weird season, playing in each level of Russian professional hockey. 19 games at the KHL, where he was rarely used, 22 games in the VHL, and 8 games in the MHL. In those 49 games played, he had 10 goals and 7 assists for 17 points, most coming at the MHL level.
Sochi stunk this year, so it was slightly annoying to see Avramov, a forward with a good amount of offensive potential, not be used a ton. A true power forward, he looked really dominant at the MHL level and was (thankfully for his development) not sent there too often. I think he found his level in the VHL, being challenged but also getting praise from the coaches and teammates for his skill level.
Outlook for 2025/26: A consistent VHL player while getting spot games in at the KHL level.
Nikita Guslistov, W/C
In honesty, this was a rough year for Guslistov. He was expected to be a consistent player for Dinamo Minsk but quickly fell out of favor and ended up either healthy scratched or with HK Brest in the Belarus League. A trade to Admiral Vladivostok helped a little bit, as he played in the KHL a little more but still couldn’t stick. He played well for Dynamo-Altay Barnaul in the VHL, though. In 38 games played, he had 6 goals and 8 assists for 14 points.
In even more honesty, I didn’t watch a lot of Guslistov this year. Mix very low playing with classes that interfered most of the time and then Admiral plays at 4 AM EST, it was hard. But it’s also hard to see any sort of NHL future for Guslistov, who is already 22 years old and on his 3rd KHL team. I’d love to be proven wrong, but I’m still waiting for that to happen.
Outlook for 2025/26: A tweener between Admiral and Dynamo-Altay Barnaul
Andrei Krutov, W
One of the biggest surprises out of all Hurricanes draft picks, Krutov was an incredibly valuable player for all three levels of the Torpedo organization. He helped Chaika in the MHL playoffs, consistently playing 20+ minutes a night, he helped Torpedo-Gorky win the VHL championship and tied the record for U19 goal scoring, and made his KHL debut while scoring 4 goals in 12 games. He’s a true, developing, dynamic offensive talent.
In 78 games played across every level, Krutov had 28 goals and 14 assists for 42 points. His shot is real, with good power, accuracy, and the eternal green light. His hands are electric, being able to make defenders look silly even at higher levels of competition. He’s got a solid motor on him and his skating holds up. A lot to like from a 7th round pick.
Outlook for 2025/26: Majority of the time spent getting top 6 minutes in the VHL while getting spot time in the KHL.
Timur Mukhanov, W
It’s kind of insane that Mukhanov is still 19, even though he’s played almost 130 KHL games. That’s something impressive, even if the point totals aren’t high, since it’s hard to break into and stay in the KHL as a younger player. In 66 games played (1 in the MHL), he had 4 goals and 12 assists for 16 points.
Mukhanov is a solid skater with great instincts on the forecheck. His playmaking stands out more than his shot, with his ability to find open players a very nice attribute in his game. The biggest downside with Mukhanov is that he’s 5’9, but his motor and IQ helps offset the height comebacks.
Outlook for 2025/26: A top 9 winger for Severstal
Alexander Perevalov, W
What a rough 2 years it had been for Perevalov, who struggled with injuries and some interesting coaching decisions. But he finally found a team that allowed him to play to his strengths in Metallurg Novokuznetsk, where the coach saw the talent and found the best way to use it. In 54 games played, he had 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points. Here is the fun part, 25 of those points came with Metallurg Novokuznetsk in 33 games.
Perevalov is a good offensive talent. His shot is lethal and he has good hands. His playmaking is decent with skating that is pretty solid. Not much of a defensive winger, though.
Outlook for 2025/26: Top 6 winger for Metallurg Novokuznetsk
Alexander Rykov, W
Rykov is a good KHL player, the caveat being when he’s healthy. Injuries hampered him heavy this year, splitting time between the VHL and KHL. In 57 games played, he had 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points.
With Rykov, he’s an effective two-way player with a good motor. Not a super dynamic talent, but his combination of skills with his motor and good skating ability make his floor higher than most other prospects. I’m not going to go out claiming Rykov is NHL ready now, because I’m slightly worried about his offensive ability at that level. But his defensive game, forechecking, and high hockey IQ make him an interesting option.
Outlook for 2025/26: EITHER a top 9 winger for the Chicago Wolves or a bottom 6 winger for Traktor
Stanislav Yarovoy, W/C
With Yarovoy, he didn’t really get a chance outside of 2 weeks in the top 6 for a Vityaz team that struggled. His ice time was kept relatively low, normally around 12-13 minutes a night. He didn’t get a ton of power play opportunities, he was a somewhat important penalty killer, but this year just seemed downright frustrating. In 52 games played (3 in the VHL), he had 10 goals and 3 assists for 13 points.
His skating is fine, he’s a solid two way player, he’s got some interesting potential on the penalty kill, and he seemingly has more skill than he shows. With a better opportunity, there might be more potential in his game.
Outlook for 2025/26: EITHER playing for the Chicago Wolves or a different KHL team
Vladimir Grudinin, D
A player that I thought could make the jump to North America, Grudinin enjoyed another season being a top defenseman for a scrappy Severstal team and decided to sign a two year extension with the Russian side. In 68 games played, Grudinin had 3 goals and 11 assists for 14 points.
Grudinin is not your prototypical smaller defenseman, opting to run a more shutdown style than a “run and gun” style of play. It works for Grudinin, who has work his way up the lineup for Severstal. A consistent top 4 player, who plays on his off side for the most part, his skating and work with his stick is exceptional. He’s able to keep pace with faster forwards while being able to defend at a decently high level. He’s never going to be the most physical defenseman who is able to separate a player from the puck, but he doesn’t have to thanks to his style.
Outlook for 2025/26: A top 4 defenseman for Severstal
Timur Kol, D
My pick for breakout prospect next season, Kol enjoyed a nice little breakout season this year, playing a good amount of KHL games while also being a workhorse defenseman for SKA-1946 in the MHL. In 42 games played, he had 2 goals and 11 assists for 13 points.
I’ve made jokes before that Kol could be a regen of Nikishin, but there are some interesting similarities. They approach corner battles the same, they play the same style of defense, I think Kol’s offensive talents weren’t flashed a ton but he has potential as a power play QB, something he did for SKA-1946 this year. His skating is great but he’s not the most physical, something that Nikishin figured out he could be. With the correct development, I really see Kol having top 4 defensive potential.
Outlook for 2025/26: KHL regular.
Alexander Nikishin, D
This section won’t be long. He was a top 2 defenseman in the KHL for the third year in a row. He captained SKA for a second year in a row. He finally made his move to North America and has looked good in the NHL playoffs outside of 1 period against Washington.
Outlook for 2025/26: A top 4 defenseman for the Carolina Hurricanes
Alexander Pelevin, D
It’s safe to say that this was Pelevin’s best season of his career, being an important defender to a VHL championship team (before Torpedo sent KHL players down) and playing in KHL games again, something that he hadn’t done since 2021/22. In 65 games played, he had 3 goals and 10 assists for 13 points.
Pelevin has certainly learned to control his aggressive style, posting his lowest penalty minutes in a season ever. He’s never going to be a super flashy player as his skating isn’t special and his offensive ability isn’t the best. His defense is good, being an important player when it comes to late game situations when Torpedo-Gorky are leading and being a good penalty killer.
Outlook for 2025/26: A defenseman for Torpedo-Gorky, probably.
Roman Shokhrin, D
In your life, have you ever heard of a 6’4 hyper-aggressive defenseman being used as a forward for some time during his draft year? Now you have, with Shokhrin, who was used as a 4th line winger for spurts during his draft year. He was shifted back to defense this season and was very good, spending most of his year with the Gold Division Lokomotiv team, something he couldn’t maintain last year. Loko, as a whole, is an interesting organization, with 2 MHL teams and no VHL team, so the Gold Division team is the highest team in terms of competition outside of the KHL team. In 53 games played, he had 2 goals and 21 assists for 23 points.
He should’ve honestly played more games, but an interesting start to his season, where his contract was seemingly taken off the MHL website for a couple weeks and then put back up with another year added to his deal, limited his time. I still really like his play this season, reigning in his more aggressive style for one with more structure. His skating is great for his age and size, with a solid two way game to boot.
Outlook for 2025/26: A top 4 defenseman for the Gold Division MHL team, while also getting serious consideration for KHL time
Alexander Siryatsky, D
Stop me if you have heard this one before, but yet another 2024 Canes Draft Pick that also finds himself to be 6’4 and Russian had a good year of development. They took 3 of them and all had solid seasons, with Siryatsky no different. In 69 games this year (KHL/VHL/MHL), he had no goals (!?) and 15 assists for 15 points.
Siryatsky’s role grew as the season went on, eventually becoming an important defensive defenseman for a Magnitka team that had a really solid postseason. His skating is pretty good and he’s stronger defensively than offensively. There is more potential in his offensive game than he has shown, but he has more than enough time, not turning 19 until August.
Outlook for 2025/26: A top 4 defenseman for Magnitka while also making a spot start in the KHL
Egor Velmakin, G
I don’t think I have ever been more confused when trying to describe a goalie’s season than I am with Velmakin. In 12 KHL appearances this year, he posted a 2.09 GAA and a .916% save percentage while going 3-4-3.
There were definite good moments. An early season shootout loss to Severstal, where he made 37/39 saves, was a good start in my opinion. A 3-2 shootout win against Salavat, where he made 18/20 saves, is another good start. Saving 24/26 shots in a 3-0 loss against Kunlun is not his fault. But then there are ugly ones, including giving up 4 goals to Dynamo Moscow. Giving up 3 (technically more since it went to a shootout) to Avtomobilist isn’t the best. I think this year was certainly better than last year, getting more playing time and getting his first career win, plus two more. His technical ability is good and his positioning is decent, but the sample size isn’t enough to make a strong claim that he’s good or not.
Outlook for 2025/26: This one hurts even more to write because he’s (more than likely) going to be the third string goalie for yet another season. The team re-signed Vasily Demchenko and are strongly rumored with bringing Alexei Kolosov back from the NHL.