Youngster report – week eleventh

KHL.ru continues to follow U23 players’ performances throughout the league. These are the best for the tenth week of action. This time, the players’ performances between Nov 17-23 are taken into consideration. 

Sergei Ivanov

G, Admiral, 2004 

Week stats: 3 G, 97.89%, 0.97 GAA, 1 SO 

The Vladivostok goalie had a striking week, as the numbers confirm. He was particularly good in Admiral’s win in the Far East Derby against Amur. On Sunday Nov 19, Ivanov posted an incredible 48-save shutout as he blanked the opposition or the first time wearing the Sailors’ jersey with Admiral claiming a 2:0 win. Two days later, the goalie had another striking performance when he stopped 44 shots, but this time Amur took the derby 2:0. For his incredible efforts, Ivanov was awarded the best goalie and best rookie honors last week. His career is just starting, but it looks like a very promising one. 

Danila Yurov

F, Metallurg, 2003 

Week stats: 3 G, 4 (1+3) points, +5 

Yurov is keeping on impressing and improving. Magnitka is having a fantastic season, and Yurov is one of its top players. Last week, Yurov was most noticeable in the Southern Urals derby against Traktor. On Thursday, the forward posted a three-point performance when Metallurg downed its regional rival 6:3. After scoring the 2:0 goal after ten minutes in the opening frame, Yurov added two third-period assists, ending the game with a plus-3 differential. Yurov’s goal was a beauty and a splendid display of teamwork as the puck moved through first touches from Nikita Mikhailis to Alexander Petunin, then finally to Yurov who deflected it top-shelf past Nikita Podskrebalin for his ninth of the season. Earlier in the week, Yurov had an assist when Metallur defeated Sibir with a 4:1 score. It was another strong week for the Magnitka’s young forward, who is climbing up the depth chart and becoming a key player for his team. 

Timofei Davydov 

D, Severstal, 2002 

Week stats: 3 G, 2 (1+1) points, -1 

Davydov is another player who’s having a strong season, even if his production has slowed down a bit if compared to the start of the 2023-2024 campaign. However, last week Davydov netted his first of the season – and overall, his first goal in the KHL regular seasons, as he previously scored in the playoffs with Avangard. It happened in Severstal’s losing effort against CSKA (2:3) on Nov 22. With the Steelers down by three, Cherepovets got the puck moving in the offensive zone and following a shot by Davydov’s linemate Nikita Sedov, the defenseman had a nice chance from the left circle, and he buried it to get his first of the season. On Nov 19, Davydov had an assist in Severstal’s loss to Vityaz (3:5). The young defenseman is currently Severstal’s top scorer on the blue line and one of the team’s alternate captains. 

Vasily Atanasov

F, Torpedo, 2002 

Week stats: 3 G, 3 (2+1) points, 5 

Atanasov and Torpedo had another strong week, with the forward getting points in all games, and Torpedo winning two games from three. Atanasov scored two consecutive goals when Torpedo defeated Dynamo Moscow and Barys last week, adding another assist in the second showdown of the week against the Muscovites – who this time got the W from the match. Atanasov is now one of the most admired players in the league for his spectacular plays and goals, and Torpedo’s second scorer, trailing only Maxim Letunov. His offensive skills are fantastic, and Torpedo remains one of the most pleasant teams to watch in the entire league. 

Dmitry Simashev 

D, Lokomotiv, 2005 

Week stats: 3 G, 1 (1+0) point, +1 

Simashev had only one point last week, but what a point it was – the young dman netted the game-winner in Loko’s OT win over Lada on Nov 23. Simashev stole the puck in the neutral zone, then moved fast forward and beat Togliatti’s goalie Alexander Trushkov with a wristshot from close in for his second of the season – both his tallies were game-winners for the Railwaymen. Earlier in the game, another young Loko player, Daniil But, scored for Yaroslavl. Simashev’s role within the team is growing, and Lokomotiv is having another season with a high place in the Western Conference standings.