Dominant Demidov and a host of successful goalies. October youngsters

Commentator for KHL TV channels and expert at KHL.ru, Anton Vasyatin, presents the top ten most prominent young players (U23) in the league based on their performance in the last month of the regular season.

The list is compiled based on the Player Ratings, which the League calculates using an extensive set of statistical metrics.

10. Daniil But, forward (2005, Lokomotiv)

Player rating: 2.87

Daniil But, along with the entire Lokomotiv team, had a productive month, scoring five goals and providing four assists. He managed to score in games against Avangard, Kunlun Red Star (in two games — both home and away), Dynamo Moscow, and Amur. The forward finished the month with a plus-5 rating. But is consistently on the ice during power plays, a role he has certainly earned. Daniil has shown he can not only set up scoring chances for teammates but also, on occasion, single-handedly take on multiple opponents to score a beautiful and critical goal. At just 19 years old, the Yaroslavl native has already become a vital part of a team that is currently leading the league.

9. Magomed Sharakanov, defenseman (2004, Lada)

Player rating: 3.00

In his first KHL season, Magomed Sharakanov is already showcasing his ability to perform confidently at this level. With each game for Lada, the blueliner is gaining more ice time, and his October performance was even more productive than his first month of the season. He registered 4 points over 11 games, including a goal against Neftekhimik in Nizhnekamsk — a crucial 1:0 goal that helped his team secure the win. Sharakanov plays both on the power play and penalty kill, establishing himself as a versatile, key defenseman for Oleg Bratash’s squad. In October, he also recorded 12 hits, blocked 9 shots, made 2 takeaways, and had 7 interceptions, finishing the month with a plus-7 differential.

8. Nikita Artamonov, forward (2005, Torpedo)

Player rating: 3.03

Thanks to an extremely productive start to the regular season, Nikita Artamonov ranks among the league’s top scorers. At the end of September and the beginning of October, he put together an eight-game point streak, and overall, he earned 9 points (5 goals, 4 assists) through ten October games. Artamonov scored against Kunlun Red Star, Metallurg, Neftekhimik, Salavat Yulaev (with the man advantage), and Vityaz. In each October match, he registered shots on goal (averaging 2 per game) while also contributing defensively by blocking 5 opponent shots. Remarkably, he isn’t even the team’s ice-time leader, averaging around 14 minutes per game (ninth among Torpedo forwards). This only highlights the importance and productivity of the young forward for Igor Larionov’s team.

7. Luka Profaca, defenseman (2002, Neftekhimik)

Player rating: 3.07

Luka Profaca is having a strong debut season in the KHL, and he’s only getting better each week. Coaching trust has played a role, as since late September, he’s been getting power play time. This has led to a noticeable improvement in his shot activity and scoring. In October, Profaca scored a crucial power play goal against Torpedo in a dramatic game in Nizhny Novgorod. Additionally, he recorded four helpers, with the game against Nizhny Novgorod marking his career-best performance with 1+2 points. Profaca also showed his physical edge, making 24 hits in October games.

6. Dmitry Buchelnikov, forward (2003, Vityaz)

Player rating: 3.07

Dmitry Buchelnikov was already one of the KHL’s top young talents last season, and he’s continuing to prove that status this year. As a key part of Vityaz’s offense, the forward scored points in seven out of eleven games in October. He scored once each against HC Sochi (twice), Lokomotiv, Dinamo Minsk, and Torpedo, with his goal against Lokomotiv being the game-winner. On average, he has made at least three shots on goal per game. Nearly every shift Buchelnikov takes on the ice is marked by impressive activity, both with and without the puck. He is now a crucial player for his new team.

5. Sergei Ivanov, goalie (2004, HC Sochi)

Player rating: 3.22

After a very challenging first month of the season, HC Sochi has gradually begun to improve its placement in the league. In October, Sergei Zubov’s team recorded five wins and earned an additional point in two other games. Much of this success can be credited to goaltender Sergei Ivanov, who posted shutouts against Admiral (with 27 saves) and Kunlun Red Star (stopping 24 shots). With Ivanov in goal, the Black Sea franchise reached shootouts in matchups with CSKA and Salavat Yulaev. The victory over CSKA was historic in a way (their first in many years), as Ivanov saved 20 shots in regulation and denied four attempts in the shootout.

4. Ilya Nabokov, goalie (2003, Metallurg)

Player rating: 3.74

Over the past month, Ilya Nabokov played nine games, six of which he completed in full, achieving five wins. Also thanks to his efforts, Metallurg defeated CSKA, Spartak, Dinamo Minsk, Kunlun Red Star, and Avangard. Neither the Moscow team nor the Minsk side could get a puck past Nabokov. One of his standout performances came in a game against Avangard; although Metallurg lost the rematch in Omsk, Nabokov made an impressive 42 saves — his highest total this season. He remains the undisputed starting goalie for his team.

3. Ivan Demidov, forward (2005, SKA)

Player rating: 4.20

Despite some lack of consistency to start to the season, Ivan Demidov has not only become the top contender for Rookie of the Year but has also quickly emerged as a leader for both SKA and the league. In October, he recorded 11 points (two goals and nine assists) over twelve games with a plus-10 rating. Most often, Demidov has played alongside Plotnikov and Kuznetsov, forming one of SKA’s most potent lines, even if it is nominally listed as the third unit. Demidov continues to dominate nearly every shift, and having such skilled and experienced linemates only boosts the young forward’s productivity.

2. Yegor Zavragin, goalie (2005, HC Sochi, SKA)

Player rating: 4.64

Already in his first season in the KHL this fall, Yegor Zavragin changed teams, returning from his loan to HC Sochi to rejoin SKA. However, this transition hasn’t affected his performance negatively. On the contrary, this shift has posed a significant challenge for the young player, which Zavragin is handling admirably so far. In October, the goalie played nine full games, winning eight of them. In six outings, he allowed no more than two goals, and he recorded shutouts in HC Sochi’s match against Severstal (36 saves) and SKA’s game against Kunlun Red Star (31 saves).

1. Maxim Motorygin, goalie (2002, Dynamo Moscow)

Player rating: 4.78

The goaltending situation is a critical topic for a team of Dynamo's caliber, especially with serious ambitions for the season. In October, 21-year-old Maxim Motorygin almost secured the starting goalie position, winning six out of eight games. He also managed to shut out Vityaz (22 saves), Spartak (29), and Amur (35), significantly boosting the team’s confidence overall. In an away game against Lokomotiv, Motorygin made 39 saves, helping Dynamo reach overtime. With such a talented goalie, Dynamo can feel a bit more at ease despite concerns over its goaltending lineup.