Sniper Kantserov and Dinamo Minsk’s forwards. 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 third 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. Yegor Vinogradov, forward (2003, Torpedo)

Player’s rating: 2.67

Although November wasn’t as productive for Yegor Vinogradov as the very start of the season, he is now an important player for Torpedo, making a noticeable contribution to the team’s success. In November, the center — who can also play on the wing in the KHL — scored in hard-fought road games against Avtomobilist and CSKA. Both goals proved to be game-winners for Nizhny Novgorod. Later, Vinogradov also recorded assists — four in total for the month (two of them came during the comeback in the home game against HC Sochi, while he added one each in the matchups with Admiral and Spartak). In nine November games, the young forward also delivered thirty hits. Vinogradov is a versatile player who features both on the power play and the penalty kill, which only underscores his importance to the team.

9. Nikita Khoruzhev, forward (2003, Neftekhimik)

Player’s rating: 2.71

Despite missing the start of the season due to injury, Nikita Khoruzhev quickly settled back into his usual pace, and in November he was involved in several important goals for Neftekhimik. In Astana, the forward recorded a goal and an assist and helped defeat Barys. In the home games against CSKA and Ak Bars, he picked up one assist in each (against the Moscow side, he took part in the decisive goal at 2:2 late in the third period). Later, Khoruzhev scored against Salavat Yulaev and Avangard — a brace that helped fuel an incredible comeback. In November, he frequently took faceoffs again, logged time on special teams, blocked seven shots, made six takeaways and six pass interceptions, and delivered three hits. His final differential for the month was a very good plus-5.

8. Sergei Ivanov, goalie (2004, SKA)

Player’s rating: 2.82

SKA still doesn’t have a clearly defined starting goalie — Ivanov, Artemoi Pleshkov, and Yegor Zavragin have all split the recent games almost evenly. In November, Ivanov stood out, stopping nearly 94% of the shots he faced. With him in net, SKA defeated Avangard (43 saves, shutout), Metallurg (32 saves), and CSKA (22). His only losses came against Dynamo Moscow and Ak Bars, yet even in those games Ivanov made 34 saves apiece. Beyond the fact that Igor Larionov’s team put together a winning streak and climbed back into the playoff zone in the West thanks in part to the young goalie’s play, these victories also came against very strong opponents.

7. Daniil Pivchulin, forward (2003, Spartak)

Player’s rating: 3.01

Last season, Danil Pivchulin made a successful debut for Spartak, making good use of his limited opportunities despite modest ice time. Now, he is a full-fledged member of the main roster — largely thanks to his performance in November. In addition to his activity and overall work without the puck, the Red-and-Whites’ forward began to produce offensively. Over the past month, he scored against Lokomotiv, Severstal, Torpedo, and Lada, and he also assisted teammates six times. He averaged just over two shots on goal per game, and overall recorded nine hits, twelve blocked shots, eleven takeaways, and two pass interceptions. Danil Pivchulin’s play in November is a good example of how to make the most of your opportunities when key players are injured — a stretch during which he earned time on the power play and scored several goals.

6. Yegor Borikov, forward (2005, Dinamo Minsk)

Player’s rating: 3.09

A clear reserve for Dinamo Minsk to strengthen the roster during the season is its young players. One of them is Yegor Borikov, who is already on track for the best regular season of his KHL career. November was his most productive month of the current campaign — 5+3 in 11 games. In the matchups with HC Sochi and CSKA, he assisted on game-winning goals. Borikov also scored in that same game against CSKA and recorded braces against Sibir and Admiral (including a game-winner).

The Minsk forward registered shots on goal in every game of the month, averaging four per night. He also delivered twelve hits, blocked eight shots, and recorded four takeaways and four pass interceptions. With him on the ice, the team conceded very little at even strength, with his differential for the month being at plus-6.

5. Daniil Sotishvili, forward (2003, Dinamo Minsk)

Player’s rating: 3.12

Daniil Sotishvili was one of Dynamo Minsk’s standout performers in November. In his first six games of the month, he recorded seven points. During that stretch, the forward put together the second three-game goal streak of his career, scoring against Ak Bars, CSKA, and Spartak (a two-goal outing). In addition, Sotishvili assisted on three more goals, including contributing to a game-winner in one of the meetings with CSKA. With an overall rating of plus-7, the forward registered shots on goal in every game (eight in total), taking 14 shots combined. His stat line also included nine hits, four blocked shots, and two pass interceptions. Over the past few years, Daniil has become an important player for Dmitry Kvartalnov’s team, consistently earning penalty-killing minutes as well.

4. Mikhail Ilyin, forward (2005, Severstal)

Player’s rating: 3.21

Mikhail Ilyin is currently on pace for the best season of his KHL career (the same could likely be said for Severstal as a whole). In eleven November games, the forward scored four goals — each of enormous importance to the team. He netted game-winners against HC Sochi, CSKA, and Lokomotiv, and his goal against Spartak gave the Steelers the lead for the first time in that matchup (which Severstal eventually won). On two occasions, Ilyin struck in extra time — and notably, all of Severstal’s OT victories this season have come from his line with Danil Aimurzin and Ioannis Kaldis. In the game against Sochi, the Cherepovets native registered four points (1+3), the most productive game of his entire KHL career so far. At just 20 years old, Ilyin is a key part of Andrei Kozyrev’s team, including on the power play where he helps drive the offense.

3. Dmitry Gamzin, goalie (2003, CSKA)

Player’s rating: 3.23

Since Spencer Martin wasn’t able to establish himself in the KHL, and CSKA still can’t secure a win with Alexander Samonov in net, much of the responsibility in the Muscovites’ crease now falls on Dmitry Gamzin — at least for the moment. In November, he carried a significant workload, starting eight games and winning half of them. With Gamzin in goal, Igor Nikitin’s team defeated Sibir (24 saves), Severstal (34), Ak Bars (24), and Lada (17). In the first two of those games, the young goalie didn’t allow a single goal, earning the first back-to-back shutouts of his career. Overall, the CSKA netminder stopped nearly 94% of the shots he faced during the month.

2. German Tochilkin, forward (2003, Neftekhimik)

Player’s rating: 4.03

This season, German Tochilkin has earned his place on such lists more than once — thanks to his consistent play. Even when he wasn’t producing offensively in certain games, he still contributed to Neftekhimik through his work ethic, speed, and aggressive style. But he also played a part in several of the team’s goals in November. Some he scored himself — for instance, in games against CSKA, Avtomobilist, Ak Bars, and Avangard. He also assisted teammates seven times, including three helpers in the game against the Dragons — the best single-game mark of his young career. On average, he registered just over two shots per game. The big forward also recorded 28 hits, eight blocked shots, six takeaways, and five pass interceptions.

1. Roman Kantserov, forward (2004, Metallurg)

Player’s rating: 4.78

At the end of September, Roman Kantserov ranked third on this list; in October, he moved up to second. The steady upward trend continued, and now Metallurg’s leader sits at the very top. Recently, the young forward — who has been playing center on a full-time basis since this season — has begun taking the ice with an alternate captain’s “A” on his jersey, a clear sign of the coaching staff’s trust. All of this is also a result of his outstanding production: in November, Kantserov played eleven games and recorded 14 points, including 8 goals. He scored against the Dragons, Amur (the game-winner), Barys (three goals across two games), Lada, Traktor, and Avtomobilist. With him on the ice, Magnitogorsk also netted game-winners in Vladivostok and Chelyabinsk. It’s also worth noting his decisive shootout goal against Admiral on home ice. He contributed defensively as well: eleven interceptions, five takeaways, five blocked shots, and nine hits. The league’s top scorer registered shots on goal in every game, reaching five shots multiple times. The most impressive part is the consistency Kantserov is showing this season — something very few players at his age have been able to demonstrate.