Russia Stock Watch: Nizhny Novgorod trio leading the way early
The Russian hockey season is now in its second month, and there are intriguing storylines emerging across the board. The disparity between draft classes has been significant: while some of the top 2024 draftees are lighting up the KHL, the 2025 prospects are off to a slow start, and 2026 is shaping up to be a year to watch.
I won’t be covering the hot starts of Ivan Demidov or Nikita Artamonov, as they were just featured in the Rinkside Roundup, but there are several successors to Artamonov in the Torpedo system who have been electric in their season openers.
Stock Rising 📈
Nizhny Novgorod’s Future
It’s not all about Nikita Artamonov and Anton Silayev in the Torpedo system, as the 2026 and 2027 NHL Draft classes look like they may be headlined by players from the team.
The 2026 eligibles have burst onto the scene, with the trio of Viktor Fyodorov, Yan Melnikov, and Vladimir Laptev leading in production on the Chaika Nizhny Novgorod team. Fyodorov was one of the most anticipated debutants coming into this MHL season, despite not being a standout in most of his previous competitions. Melnikov took an interesting path to where he is now, switching from the Russian U17 circuit to 16U AAA hockey in the United States before returning to Russia, where he currently leads all 2026 prospects in scoring with 11 points through his first 10 games. Laptev, after blowing up with Torpedo’s U18 team last season, continued his momentum into the preseason as one of the best performers throughout.
Looking even further ahead to the 2027 Draft, Sergei Skvortsov seems to be leading the way for the Russian crop early on. The 15-year-old winger is dominating his U18 regional competition, amassing 18 points through eight games, and has shown up in clutch moments to score key goals while displaying a responsible off-puck game to defend leads.
Mikhail Ilyin, F, Severstal Cherepovets (Pittsburgh Penguins)
The “Wayne Gretzky of Cherepovets” continues to improve at the KHL level and has cemented himself as a valuable player on this Severstal squad. Mikhail Ilyin intelligence is consistently on display through his incredible problem-solving skills and playmaking prowess. After going pointless through his first three games, he picked it up and went on a five-game point streak. He’s now on pace for 40 points, still searching for his first goal of the year.
The drawback with Ilyin has always been the absence of an ‘it factor,’ but over the last two seasons, he’s improved his puck skills and skating to the point where he’s a well-rounded prospect—just missing that true dynamic play. His NHL potential is becoming more plausible, should he ever choose to leave his hometown.
Honourable Mentions: Arseni Gritsyuk (NJD), Prokhor Poltapov (BUF), Pyotr Andreyanov (2025)
Stock Steady ↔️
Yegor Surin, F, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Nashville Predators)
After being selected in the first round by Nashville, Yegor Surin had the opportunity to train with the Predators before heading back to Yaroslavl to join the KHL side for preseason. He got off to a hot start with a goal and two assists in three games, but when the season began, he started his real battle for ice time, averaging about six minutes in his first two games before being sent to juniors for one game. He returned to the KHL for short shifts, was sent back to juniors, and is now back in the KHL.
There’s a clear issue with development as he struggles to find a consistent role. His MHL games were underwhelming, and it’s hard to gauge a player’s baseline in the KHL when they’re only playing limited minutes with the team’s better players, just to give others rest. However, his October started on the right foot, with two games in which he played just over ten minutes in both and notched his first career point against Avangard Omsk.
Stock Falling 📉
Yegor Murashev, F, MHK Krylia Sovetov Moskva (2025 NHL Draft)
Yegor Murashev entered this year as one of the standout Russians in a weaker draft. The 5-foot-10 winger tallied 20 points in 41 games in his DY-1 season with Mamonty Yugry, despite limited minutes. Heading into his draft year, he was traded to the Spartak Moskva system but struggled throughout the preseason and has failed to produce in his first three MHL games.
As MHK Spartak Moskva dominates the league, Murashev has lost favour and was recently transferred to MHK Krylia Sovetov Moskva in the Silver Division. His first two games there were unproductive, as his speed and skill have not been enough to make an impact so far this season.
Ivan Ryabkin, C, MHK Dynamo Moskva (2025 NHL Draft)
Ivan Ryabkin exploded as a rookie in his DY-1 season last year, setting records for production and generally looking a step ahead of his peers. However, he struggled with consistency last year, and that trend seems to be continuing into the 2024-25 season. He started hot, with three power play assists in his first game, but followed it with a four-game drought. As of this writing, he’s at seven points in eight matches—a respectable number, but not quite what you’d expect from a potential lottery pick.
Ryabkin is a strong playmaker, excelling along the boards in tight spaces and being deceptive in his passing. However, he’s struggled outside of his playmaking, with no goals so far, which points to his lack of finishing ability. His lower pace and motor have taken him out of games at times, and he’s had issues stringing together plays for clean transitions. There’s potential for him to find his rhythm and secure a spot as a top prospect in this draft class, but it’s not happening yet.
