As the KHL season enters into the final stretch, the playoff picture is starting to take shape. We’ve covered many of the top prospects and performers in Russia this season and how they’ve helped their teams. However, let’s not forget about the talent that came out of Russia in the 2025 draft. As we enter the midpoint of the season, let’s look back one last time at those who have stuck around the Russian leagues and how they’ve impacted their teams.  

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Alexander Zharovsky – F – Montreal Canadiens 

During the draft, Zharovsky was considered by some (or many, depending who you follow) a steal in the second round by the Montreal Canadiens. He was fresh off of a 24-goal, 50-point season with Tolpar Ufa in the MHL. The talent was there, but some were still waiting to see if he could do it at a higher level. Well, Zharovsky has done that this year with Salavat Ufa. He has played in 40 games and generated 35 points in that span. He has quickly skyrocketed to one of the best players in the KHL, but also one of the best prospects that any team boasts. The KHL is a league that is notoriously difficult for young players to carve out any ice time, no matter their skill level. Most recently, Ivan Demidov struggled with this, as he couldn’t crack over 10 minutes per game early in the season. 

Zharovsky has, impressively, had no trouble seeing the ice. He plays hefty minutes for Ufa and is their top scorer. However, Zharovsky struggles in two main areas; consistency and pace. Zharovsky doesn’t possess a game-breaking skating ability. He can get up and down the ice effectively, but the other tools of his game have to take over. All that being said, Zharovsky still possesses truly high-end skill, particularly on the power play. He is a threat from anywhere with magic hands and an elite passing ability. His tools certainly hint at a top-six forward, but Montreal does not have to be in a position to rush Zharovsky to North America. 

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Kurban Limatov – D – Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes nabbed four Russians in the draft, but Limatov is among the top selections out of the country. Limatov is back on MHK Dynamo Moskva in the MHL this season and has taken a nice step forward in development. Statistically, he is up to 18 points in 30 games from the back end, on pace for 24, to go along with a plus-19 rating. It is fair to say that Limatov is excelling in the MHL and is ready for further development. He is consistently on the ice well over 25 minutes per game. 

The hallmark of Limatov’s game is his skating ability. We raved about this last year, and it has continued to be an elite weapon of his. He is explosive and is able to skate the puck out of almost any situation, making him an elite asset on the breakout. Limatov’s aggression has also been on full display this season. Combined with his skating ability, his active stick and ability to shutdown rushes quickly, Limatov has the potential to be a really effective top-four defenseman. His offensive tools are good, as well, as he finds shooting lanes and distributes the puck well. Limatov is signed until the end of the 2026-27 season, so he will certainly get some time in the KHL for further development. There is a lot to love about Limatov’s game. 

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Pyotr Andreyanov – G – Columbus Blue Jackets 

Simply put, Andreyanov posted one of the best goaltending seasons possible in his draft year for Krasnaya Armiya Moskva. His save percentage was north of .940 and, while those numbers are predictably down this year, they still show promise and justification for the first round selection. Andreyanov has actually played 13 games in both the VHL and MHL and not looked out of place in either. His save percentage is .926 in the MHL and .918 in the VHL. However, Andreyanov has gotten more extended time in the MHL, which has reflected in his play. A three-start stretch with Zvezda Moskva in late-October was his best showing at higher levels. He surrendered two or fewer goals in each start and gave his team every chance to win. 

Andreyanov has always been one of the more athletic goaltenders in the Russian system. His 6-2 frame does not allow him to make saves purely on size, so he has had to result to elite athleticism and speed to be effective. His most recent start was a rare tough outing. He surrendered five goals on 24 shots. Don’t anticipate this to become the new norm, as there is plenty of data to suggest a bounce back. Expect Andreyanov to see extended time in the KHL and VHL, potentially this season, but especially next year. So far, Andreyanov has done all he can to justify Columbus’ first round selection. 

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Daniil Prokhorov – F – New York Islanders 

After a slow start to the season, Prokhorov has exploded since seeing consistent time in the VHL. He has eight goals and 14 points in 17 games, which is the result of a fiery play-style and willingness to shoot. His most recent zero-point performance snapped a six-game point streak. However, he has only registered under six shots in one of his last five games. Prokhorov peppers the net and, as mentioned, is not afraid to use the body. Of all of these prospects, Prokorov is the only one signed to his entry-level deal with the Islanders. His game would translate to North America, given his motor and physical stature, though some elements do need some refining. 

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Though this draft class did not feature any top-of-the-draft talent, there are still so many players who will provide nice sparks whenever they cross the pond. After finishing out this season, we will get a better look their long-term outlook. 

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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!