With the KHL season roaring to its end, we have all of the playoff teams settled. The regular season ended yesterday, meaning we are all focused on who is going to host the Gagarin Cup. Let’s take a look at the playoff teams and some of the key players who are hoping to lead their teams to the finish line. 

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Roman Kantserov – F – Chicago Blackhawks 

We’ve talked extensively about Kantserov this season, and for good reason. Outside of North America, Kantserov is arguably the best prospect in an NHL team’s system. So far, he has done nothing but raise his stock and make himself an elite piece of the Blackhawks’ future. This season was magical for Kantserov and Metallurg Magnitogorsk. He netted 36 goals and 64 points, as Metallurg finished atop the KHL standings. If there is going to be a Metallurg run to the Gagarin Cup, Kantserov will assuredly be front and center. 

Kantserov can do just about anything on the ice. He has elite goal-scoring prowess, is a high-volume shooter and finds multiple ways to get his teammates the best look possible. Looking at how this affects the Blackhawks, his contract ends at the conclusion of this Russian season. Immediately, if anything translates to North America, he completely changes the dynamic of Chicago’s outlook. He immediately becomes an elite winger for Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar. Kantserov has been the guy for Metallurg all year long, and they’ll need him to finish the job. 

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Prokhor Poltapov – F – Buffalo Sabres 

Poltapov plays a bit of an interesting role on CSKA Moskva. The team really struggles scoring goals and is, by far, the lowest scoring playoff team in the Western Conference. Poltapov leads the way with 40 points, the exact same amount he had a year ago. He comes into the postseason riding a four game point streak, and CSKA will need a big postseason if they want to make a deep run. Poltapov’s game is interesting. He stands at just 6-0, but plays a typical power forward game. He thrives off of body contact and can bring his game into the dirty areas. This is the one area where he should see some success in a playoff-style game. Poltapov moves well and has a slick set of hands, as well. 

Obviously, the Sabres are one of the best teams in the NHL, so Poltapov’s path is a bit more difficult than it would be otherwise. That being said, he has one more season beyond this one in Russia, and he certainly provides some vital organizational depth. In this playoff run, Plotapov has a real opportunity to raise his stock amongst Sabres prospects. 

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Dmitri Gamzin – G – New York Islanders 

We mentioned how CSKA Moskva struggles to score goals, well Gamzin is the reason why they’ve had so much success. Gamzin was absolutely remarkable this season. He spent the entire year in the KHL for the first time in his career and backstopped 40 games. His .938 save percentage was just behind Artemi Pleshkov for the league lead. However, Gamzin is unquestionably the most valuable goaltender in the entire league. CSKA would not be close to the position they are in without his play. He is positionally sound and can make a save through traffic. Gamzin is a calming presence in the net and is the perfect goaltender to go on a deep playoff run with. 

The Islanders may have found the next great Russian goaltender. Ilya Sorokin’s contract ends after the 2029-30 season, which means Gamzin will have been in North America for two seasons. Sorokin will also be a nice veteran during that transition period, meaning Matthew Schaefer will likely always have a stable goaltender behind him. 

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Daniil Orlov – D – New Jersey Devils 

We mentioned Orlov earlier in the season, and his impressive season only continued up until the postseason. His season point totals don’t jump off the page, registering 28 points in 66 games. Ten of those points, however, were goals, showcasing his sneaky goal-scoring prowess. Orlov plays a mobile game and is an excellent skater. He plays smart in all three zones and utilizes his instincts to both shut down chances and create them. The other important part about Orlov’s game is how reliable he is. He consistently plays over 20 minutes per game, which should help Spartak in their postseason run. 

The Devils are in an interesting spot with their defensive core. Much of their NHL blue line are veterans, while their AHL blue line could use an infusion of youth. Orlov’s Russian contract ends after 2027-28, meaning he should be in North America sooner rather than later. When he does come over, Orlov should be a nice addition to New Jersey’s back end. Until then, Spartak has high hopes for the playoffs. 

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So much of the talent that we’ll see in the Gagarin Cup playoffs will be in North America at some point. There is so much talent to keep an eye on, it should make for a heck of a tournament. 

Thank you for reading! Follow me on X/Twitter @norr028 for updates all season long!