From Spartak’s youth to Metallurg’s goalies. November top 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 Orlov, defenseman (2003, Spartak)

Player’s rating: 2.26

In nine November games, Daniil Orlov earned two points, registering one assist at even strength in each of the home matches against Admiral and Amur. Considering that Spartak has recently faced numerous injuries, particularly on the defensive line, many young players have had the chance to prove themselves. This includes Orlov, who has become a regular in the lineup, typically spending no less than 17 minutes on the ice. He finished the month with a plus-5 rating, took six shots on goal, blocked 11 shots, made several crucial takeaways and interceptions, and added seven hits.

9. Veniamin Korolyov, defenseman (2003, Spartak)

Player’s rating: 2.27

In November, Veniamin Korolyov reached a long-awaited milestone—he scored his first goal in the KHL. This happened in the final game of the month against Salavat Yulaev, with that goal being Spartak’s only one in the 60 minutes of play. Over the month, he registered seven shots on target. However, it is already clear that in the future, this defenseman will stand out not for his offensive contributions but for his aggressive and hard-nosed play in the defensive zone. In just nine November games, Korolyov delivered 27 hits and blocked 19 shots. This is his typical style of play, one that many of Spartak’s opponents have already gotten to know.

8. Luka Profaca, defenseman (2002, Neftekhimik)

Player’s rating: 2.29

In November, Neftekhimik defenseman Luka Profaca played all eleven of his team’s games—a demanding workload for any player. However, it seems the Canadian has only benefited from it. After a challenging adaptation period at the start of the season, Profaca began receiving more ice time, reaching a personal career-high of 24:24 in a game in Omsk. His contributions included offensive plays, as he recorded one assist each in games against Avtomobilist, Barys, Avangard, and Salavat Yulaev. Over the month, he registered 12 shots on goal, 13 blocked shots, three puck interceptions, two takeaways, and delivered 13 hits.

7. Ilya Nabokov, goalie (2003, Metallurg)

Player’s rating: 2.29

Ilya Nabokov has been playing significantly more games at the start of this season compared to the same period last year. In fact, he currently leads the league in games played among goaltenders this season. In November, Andrey Razin’s goaltender appeared in eight full games, securing four wins, with another game ending in a SO loss for Magnitogorsk. In six of those games, opponents managed to score no more than two goals against him. Victories came against Admiral, Sibir (twice), and Lada. The away game in Novosibirsk was one of the best of his career—Nabokov stopped 42 shots (his third-highest career total and the best of the season), allowed just one goal, and helped his team clinch the win.

6. Yaroslav Busygin, defenseman (2003, Vityaz)

Player’s rating: 2.31

In terms of productivity, Yaroslav Busygin had arguably the best stretch of his career. Over eight games in the last month, he recorded four points, including a goal against Severstal. That particular game can undoubtedly be called Busygin’s best in the KHL—he posted a 1+1 stat line and a plus-3 rating. Moreover, he contributed to Vladislav Tsitsyura’s game-winning goal. Busygin spent no less than 18 minutes on the ice in each November game. It’s also worth noting that in 7 out of 8 games, the Vityaz defenseman blocked shots, totaling 16 blocks. He ended the month with a plus-2 differential. He continues to progress steadily and is becoming a vital part of his team’s defense.

5. Yaroslav Tsulygin, defenseman (2004, Salavat Yulaev)

Player’s rating: 2.83

This season, Yaroslav Tsulygin’s game has reached an entirely new level. Previously seen as a promising defenseman who occasionally made Salavat Yulaev’s lineup, he is now a key player for the team. He takes the ice not only at even strength but also on both the power play and penalty kill. In November, Tsulygin tallied six points across six different games, including goals against Lada and Metallurg. Only once during the month did he fail to register a shot on goal, finishing with a total of 26 shots. Notably, eight of those came in the game in Togliatti, setting a personal KHL record for shots in a single game. Moreover, he ended November with a plus-4 differential.

4. Alexander Smolin, goalie (2003, Metallurg)

Player’s rating: 2.92

In addition to Ilya Nabokov’s successes, the performance of Metallurg’s backup goalie, Alexander Smolin, in November also deserves recognition. Smolin played three games, all of which ended in victories for Andrei Razin’s team. November featured two standout milestones for him. First, Smolin made 40 saves in an away game against Amur, allowing just one goal—a personal career-high. Second, he recorded the second shutout of his career, stopping 21 shots in a game against Barys. Between these matches, he secured a significant win in Ufa, making 33 saves while conceding two goals. Overall, Smolin stopped nearly 97% of the shots he faced in November.

3. Alexander Pashin, forward (2002, Spartak)

Player’s rating: 3.00

Alexander Pashin’s performance this season is one of the key reasons why Spartak boasts one of the best offensive lines in the entire KHL. In eleven November games, the forward recorded three goals and five assists, including two three-point games. These standout performances came during the home series against Admiral (0+3) and Amur (1+2). Just before that, Pashin scored the game-winning goal in the third period of a tough matchup against Severstal. Notably, he started the month with a goal against HC Sochi. Pashin registered shots on goal in every game (averaging at least three per game), made 11 interceptions, and completed six takeaways. Nearly every shift sees him posing a threat to the opponent’s net—whether through dangerous shots, even from unconventional angles, or incisive passes that create scoring opportunities for his teammates.

2. Yegor Savikov, defenseman (2002, Spartak)

Player’s rating: 3.20

An intriguing story surrounds Yegor Savikov, who doesn’t always make Spartak’s lineup and played only seven games in November. However, during this time, he managed to earn seven points—more than he had in all of September and October combined. Part of this surge in productivity is linked to Andrey Mironov’s injury, which gave Savikov opportunities on the power play, where he picked up several points.

His standout performances came against Amur (1+2) and Vityaz (0+2). In the former, Savikov’s even-strength goal proved to be the game-winner. He also recorded one assist each in games against Admiral and Neftekhimik. Novikov ended the month with a plus-6 rating, with his average ice time exceeding 20 minutes per game.

1. Dmitry Buchelnikov, forward (2003, Vityaz)

Player’s rating: 3.51

Dmitry Buchelnikov is having his best KHL season yet and has effectively established himself as Vityaz’s clear leader. In seven of the nine November games, the forward added to his scoring tally. It began with a goal against Dinamo Minsk, followed by two assists in the game against Dynamo Moscow. Shortly after, he embarked on a three-game point streak, with assists against Severstal and Dinamo Minsk, and then a stellar 1+2 performance in Cherepovets against Severstal. Buchelnikov added two more assists in an away game against Spartak. In nearly every match, he registered shots on goal, often taking at least two. His ability to recover the puck and intercept plays stood out as well, with nine pass interceptions recorded in November. Whenever Buchelnikov is on the ice, consistent offensive activity is to be expected, often leading to tangible results.