Nikishin, Radulov, and Jaskin named finalists for Golden Stick award

KHL.ru presents the finalists for the Golden Stick award – the trophy for the most valuable player of the 2022-2023 KHL regular season.

The Golden Stick award recipient is determined by a vote among all the Kontinental Hockey League head coaches. SKA’s Alexander Nikishin and Dmitrij Jaskin, and Ak Bars’s forward Alexander Radulov are the three finalists for the 2022-2023 edition.

Alexander Nikishin (SKA)

65 GP, 55 (11+44) points

In the KHL history, no defensemen have been awarded with the Golden Stick Award so far, but after Nikishin’s season, everything is possible. He was the top-scoring defenseman in the regular season and established a record for points among Russian players.

Alexander Radulov (Ak Bars)

62 GP, 57 (25+32) points

Radulov showed all his leadership skills in his first season following his return from North America. He became Ak Bars’ captain, and was the third top scorer in the league.

Dmitrij Jaskin (SKA)

67 GP, 62 (40+22) points

Jaskin has already an impressive set of trophies on display. He was the season’s top scorer and goal scorer, and can become the fourth player to be awarded with multiple Golden Stick awards.

Alexander Radulov, Sergei Mozyakin (both four times), Vadim Shipachyov (twice), Danis Zaripov, Nikita Gusev, and Dmitrij Jaskin have won this award in the past.

The Closing Ceremony for the 2021-2022 season will be held on May 18, 2023.