Deservedly so, much of the attention with Russian players is filtered towards the KHL. The talent that resides there deserves to be there, but all that attention leaves the top junior league a bit under-the-radar – the MHL. Let’s go around Russia’s top junior league and see which players have made an impact. 

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Lavr Gashilov – F – 2026 Draft Eligible 

We mentioned Gashilov in our October KHL update, but he has continued to explode onto the scene in his draft season. So far, Gashilov is up to 58 points in 43 games, with 44 of those points being assists. In the MHL, especially in recent weeks, Gashilov is on the ice a ton. He averages well over 20 minutes per game and has established himself as Avto Yekaterinberg’s go-to guy. His line is dominant and he churns out multi-point games almost nightly. 

His hands are a key difference in his game, as he can create space from almost nothing. His passing vision is also elite, along with the ability to get his teammates the puck in various ways. Gashilov is also lethal on the power-play, though he spends most of the time along the wings. The skating ability continues to be a challenge, though it hasn’t seemed to pose a challenge to his offensive capabilities thus far. 

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Kirill Yemelyanov – F – Boston Bruins

The most interesting part of Yemelyanov’s game is how he has developed into an all-around center. He occupies Loko Yaroslavl’s 1C position, though he likely won’t reach that level in North America. Nothing about his offensive is exactly ‘game-breaking’ but there is enough there to provide serviceable offensive production, highlighted by his 27 goals and 50 points. 

His money maker is going to be his two-way play. He is involved in every play around the ice and is extremely responsible. Yemelyanov’s high-IQ and steady all-around game does give him intriguing NHL potential. His under-the-radar ability to spring a breakout gives him a crucial trait that makes centers great. Slipping to the sixth round was a bit of a shock, and the Bruins seem to have found a nice piece for the future. 

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Dmitri Isayev – F – Ottawa Senators

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the biggest knock on Isayev, both when he was drafted and now, is his size. He stands at just 5-9, 148 pounds and looks every bit of it, especially at the KHL and VHL level. Isayev can be prone to being physically over-matched in a lot of instances. He is bumped off of pucks, which limits his offensive prowess. The beginning of the season was a little inconsistent, as he bounced around all three leagues. However, in the second half of the year, Isayev has had an extended runway in the MHL, and has taken advantage of it. 

As mentioned, his size limits what he can do offensively, but there are some nice tools that could be impactful in the future. He is not afraid to get the puck to the net and has had some success in doing so. His 25 goal campaign is a step up from a year ago, meaning he’s found a consistent scoring touch in the MHL. It will likely take years of further physical and on-ice development for a middle-six NHL version of Isayev to take shape, but there are some nice tools in his pocket. 

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Alexander Plesovskikh – F – Toronto Maple Leafs

Plesovskikh has made it three years of MHL play, in which he has gotten better in each season. This year, as the alternate captain for MHK Spartak Moskva, Plesovskikh is up to 22 goals and 44 points in 44 games. He uses his 6-1 frame well and uses his high motor to check defenders well. Additionally, his skating is strong and he can exploit holes that defenders provide. It is a little concerning why Plesovskikh is still at the junior level at this point in his career, as he is certainly proving the case for why time at higher leagues may be necessary. 

In terms of the North American game, it may take a few years, if he even sees North America, for Plesovskikh to crack an NHL or AHL roster. His game does show some glimpses of a nice player, but being in the MHL this far into his career and development is not a good sign. 

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Kirill Zarubin – G – Calgary Flames

To show the goaltenders some love, this now makes three straight seasons of pure domination in the crease by Zarubin. The last three years have all seen Zarubin post a save percentage over .930 for AKM Tula. He stands at 6-3 and has continued to be dynamite for AKM Tula. The only blip on the radar this season has been a stretch between December 19 and January 8, in which he surrendered more than one goal in six straight starts. Aside from that, Zarubin has been extremely consistent and has been the guy in net. Ideally, Zarubin would see more time in the VHL and KHL at some point soon, but his play has certainly warranted a look from the Flames. 

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Thanks for reading! Be sure to check back every month for more KHL updates. Follow me on X @norr028 for updates all season long!