The list is compiled based on the Player Ratings, which the League calculates using an extensive set of statistical metrics.
Player Rating: 2.77
October stats: 12 games, 3+8
Danil Aimurzin was a noticeable figure in the Severstal lineup also in September, but he only made it into the ranking of the best young players of the KHL in October. Over the past month, his impact on the game has only increased – with the usual coach’s trust, the center played even more effectively. In all 12 games did Aimurzin record shots on goal, which resulted in three goals in games against serious opponents: Ak Bars, Lokomotiv, and Dinamo Minsk. Two of the goals came on the man advantage, and his accurate shot in the game against the Belarusians secured a victory for Andrei Kozyrev’s team. In the games against Nizhny Novgorod and Kazan, Aimurzin also contributed to the winning combinations with assists.
Player rating: 2.95
October stats: 13 games, 5+3
After a very unproductive September (just one point), Ilya Safonov led Ak Bars and had a powerful second month. It all started with a brilliant performance against Amur on Oct 1 – he recorded three points, including a power-play double, with one of the goals becoming the eventual game-winner. The forward did this as if it were a routine task in front of the opposition’s crease, once again showing that other teams cannot afford to give him space there. In addition to that, Safonov troubled Amur a few days later and, towards the end of the month, had goals against Avangard and Lada. All of this was accompanied by consistent play on the dots (in almost every game, the center won no less than 50% of the faceoffs), as well as a significant number of hits and blocked shots (on average, more than one per game).
Player rating: 3.23
October stats: 13 games, 3+5
Vladislav Firstov is one of those players who practically stands out in a positive light in every Torpedo game. Even when he gains no points, spectators can always notice excellent movement, a focus on the opponent’s net, and simply attempts to create opportunities. October was very eventful for the Nizhny Novgorod team – the side skated in a total of 13 games, and during this time, Firstov scored eight points, with three goals. The forward’s victims were Severstal, Sibir, and Barys. And these were different goals – a nice finish following an organized play in the offensive zone, an accurate shot from medium range, and a goal after a one-on-one breakaway against the goalie. In other words, the Torpedo forward can be effective in completely different game situations.
Player rating: 3.27
October stats: 12 games, 4+6
Vladimir Alistrov was one of the best players for SKA in the very first part of the season, and he maintained this status until the end of the following month. Despite the team’s inconsistency, Alistrov himself appears to plan to continue being a top performer. In October, he accumulated 10 points in 12 matches, including the game-winning goal in a tough away contest against Lokomotiv (where Alistrov potted a double). Alistrov’s performance against Admiral was particularly noteworthy – on that evening, the forward contributed to the first three goals for the St. Petersburg team and helped create the necessary foundation for its success. It’s also impressive to note his average number of shots on goal per game, which is over three. It can be confidently said that his adaptation to the new team went more than smoothly.
Player rating: 3.35
October stats: 13 games, 5+8
Just like in September, Vasily Atanasov once again found himself in the sixth position in the ranking. This reflects his consistent level of performance, and importantly, a consistently high level. In October, with 13 points accumulated, the Torpedo forward delivered at least two incredible performances. First, the game in Moscow against Dynamo, where Atanasov helped the team secure a significant victory, scoring his first KHL hat-trick and contributing to a goal by Igor Larionov. Second, a similar story unfolded in a home game against Avtomobilist, but this time Atanasov scored once and provided three assists (a first in his career). One of the most vivid impressions of the month was the performance of his line with Maxim Letunov and Nikita Artamonov. Moreover, Atanasov’s energy seems to invigorate the entire Nizhny Novgorod team.
Player rating: 3.40
October stats: 14 games, 5+5
Returning from his loan spell at Amur, Nikita Grebyonkin accomplished what he couldn’t a year ago – firmly establish himself in the Metallurg lineup. Of course, the trust of head coach Andrei Razin played a significant role in this. However, the forward himself performs confidently and fully justifies this trust. In October, he managed to achieve his first career hat-trick, which was somewhat unique. In the game against Salavat Yulaev, Grebyonkin scored a goal in even strength, on the power play, and shorthanded, with one of his shots securing victory for Magnitka. In total, the 20-year-old forward accumulated 10 points in 14 games in October. Besides everything else, over the past month, Grebyonkin delivered 15 hits, which is not entirely typical for him in such a short span. However, to secure a place in Razin’s team, sometimes it’s necessary to adapt, and in this case, it was a change for the better.
Player rating: 3.42
October stats: 10 games, 6 wins, 92.8%, GAA 2.65
Prior to this season, Artur Akhtyamov had hardly played full-fledged KHL matches, and even this autumn, he didn’t get his chance right away. Injuries to Timur Bilyalov and Amir Miftakhov played a part in this. Nevertheless, Akhtyamov didn’t disappoint, even though he started with losses in Minsk and Nizhny Novgorod. However, as the games progressed, it was clear that with each save, the goalie was gaining confidence. Subsequently, victories followed. In October, he gained wins against Amur (three times), Admiral (twice, including a shutout), and secured a win in a challenging home game against Avangard. Notably, in most games, Artur had at least 30 saves, and in one game in Vladivostok, he faced a staggering 46 shots. Such matches had occurred in his career before (in the VHL and JHL), but at such a high level, this was his first exceptional victory. Some of his saves were so impressive that they made it into the monthly highlights.
Player rating: 3.75
October stats: 13 games, 3+7
Despite a challenging start to the season, in October, Salavat Yulaev was one of the best teams in the league, achieving a winning streak of five games, all won in regulation. A crucial piece of this success was forward Danil Bashkirov. In 13 games during the month, he scored ten points, with all his goals coming in the pivotal victory against Metallurg. It was Bashkirov’s first KHL hat-trick, and he didn’t limit himself to just one standout game, as he also set up several game-winners in other matches by providing assists to his teammates. Gradually, Bashkirov is emerging as a leader within the team, and this is precisely what was expected from this young player.
Player rating: 3.79
October stats: 10 games, 1+7
Yegor Savikov has already made a name for himself in the KHL, but becoming a leader for Spartak is still ahead of him. He took an important step on that path in October, accumulating eight points in ten games, which is his best stretch in his entire professional career. Notably, all of Savikov’s productive actions came during even-strength play. His intelligent play along the opponent’s blue line allowed him to find passing lanes to set up his teammates. He tallied a total of seven assists and added a goal against Sibir joining the rush. He posted an impressive plus-10 differential and he also blocked nine shots. All of these contributions placed him among the top three young players of the month.
Player rating: 4.30
October stats: 10 games, 7 wins, 92.8%, GAA 1.77
Alexey Kolosov is an extremely significant figure in the current Dinamo Minsk’s roster. This is especially notable considering that the Belarusian franchise needed to find stability and start winning after a disappointing first month of the season. In October, Kolosov played almost all his team’s games, and he performed admirably – securing seven wins in ten games. Two of those wins were shutouts, as the young goalie blanked Barys and Kunlun Red Star. In the winning match against SKA, Alexey stopped 45 shots, which was the second highest save total in his entire career. It appears that as of today, Kolosov has solidified his status as the first-choice option in net for the Minsk side. However, he has already handled a substantial workload in previous seasons, so he has all it takes to keep on playing consistently as the season progresses.