Last month, we looked at some of the top drafted talent currently playing in Russia. All of the players we mentioned have a legitimate claim to be signed in the NHL and make their North American debuts sooner rather than later. The first player mentioned, Roman Kantserov continues to stake his claim as one of the Blackhawks’ top prospects, regardless of region. He is up to 23 goals and 40 points in 35 games. However, our first list was only a small glimpse into the drafted talent pool the Russian region features. Let’s dive into this month’s look at the drafted talent. 

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Daniil Orlov – D – Age: 21 – New Jersey Devils 

Honestly, Orlov should have been featured in the November prospect update. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 draft by the New Jersey Devils and is in the midst of an extremely impressive season for Spartak Moskva. While the point totals, 18 points in 36 games, don’t necessarily jump off the page, his play is efficient and very stable. Orlov is mobile, an excellent skater and very reliable for his team. He routinely plays over 20 minutes per game. What makes Orlov’s game so effective is his instincts and ability to shut down plays before they develop, particularly in the neutral zone. He anticipates passes and plays before they develop and is able to turn those reads into offensive rushes, aided by his smooth skating. He also features good lateral movement and can help shutdown rush chances. Again, the points may not flow for Orlov, but there is a lot to like about the way he plays. 

Orlov is a particularly fascinating case when looking at the Devils’ organizational defensive depth chart. Even outside of the Quinn Hughes rumors, the club has battled injuries on their blueline for a long time, along with some of the blueliners getting older. His contract in Russia expires after the 2027-28 season so, barring a voided contract, he could be fast tracked to a spot in the Devils’ system with the departures of some of their veterans. As the years go on, Orlov will continue to be the top defenseman in the Spartak system. 

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Mikhail Ilyin – F – Age: 20 – Pittsburgh Penguins

The 2023 fifth rounder is showing a ton of improvement from his 2024-25 campaign. That year, he finished with seven goals and 30 points in a full 64-game run. This year, however, Ilyin has jumped to nine goals and 26 points in just 37 games. Ilyin surprisingly signed his entry-level deal in the off-season and was loaned to Severstal. The Penguins inked his deal, but since he was loaned to the KHL, the first-year of his entry-level contract will slide to next year. So far, getting him locked up seems to be the right decision. 

He plays with a lot of jump and usually looks to dish the puck off first. He moves the puck well generally, but is especially effective with quick passing. Ilyin also skates with a wide base, allowing him to shield the puck effectively and buying him extra time to scan for passing lanes. The Penguins are moving in a younger direction, and Ilyin should be vying for a spot in the forward group next season. 

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Semyon Vyazovoi – G – Age: 22 – Seattle Kraken

This is Vyazovoi’s second season as Salavat’s starting netminder, a position in which he has dominated during that stretch. Just statistically, Vyazovoi started 28 games and posted a save percentage of .938 last year, with that number hovering at .926 this season through 25 starts. He has taken the reins as Salavat’s number one netminder. Vyazovoi is a consistent netminder with a good athletic ability as well. Additionally, his 6-3 frame is something to be excited about, while his 181 pounds still leaves room for further physical development. 

The Kraken locked up Joey Daccord as their long-term starter and have a backup in Philipp Grubauer for the next few years. However, Vyazovoi’s Russian contract expires after the 2026-27 season, coincidentally putting him on the same timeline as Grubauer. Assuming he maintains his consistent play and showcasing his athletic prowess, as he’s shown no reason to suggest otherwise, the organization should ink him to an entry-level contract. Whether or not he earns the backup spot is hard to say, but he has the tools to make the discussion interesting. 

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Bogdan Konyushkov – D – Age: 23 – Montreal Canadiens

Konyushkov has taken a nice step in development in 2025-26. He earned an alternate captain patch for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod and, statistically, made a noticeable improvement. In just 36 games, he is already surpassed his 17 point total from 2024-25 with 18 this time around. His impact on the game for Torpedo is similar to that of Orlov, due to his smooth skating and solid all-around toolkit. He moves the puck well, which has translated to increased point totals. Konyushkov also plays over 20 minutes per game consistently and has become a nice top-four defender for Torpedo. 

One of the ‘knocks’ on Konyushkov is his age. He is 23 years of age, so the runway for further development may be a bit shorter than a younger prospect. However, his all-around skill and right-shot ability make him intriguing for Montreal. In the same token, the Canadiens have a crowded blue line, both for the present and in the future. Regardless, Konyushkov does have some intriguing NHL potential. 

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Compared to the last group we discussed, this group of players has a little less NHL certainly. They certainly have the ability and can make impacts, but they will take a little longer to see North America. That being said, these players are some of the most talented outside of North America, and will be effective wherever they end up. 

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Thank you for reading! Follow me on X/Twitter @norr028 and check out my substack page https://nickorr.substack.com/ for updates all season long!