Terekhov’s progress and Vinogradov’s key goals. Second round 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 second round of the Gagarin Cup playoffs.

5. Vadim Moroz, forward (2003, Dinamo Minsk)

Player’s rating: 1.37

In the series against Ak Bars, Vadim Moroz scored the only goal in Game One. He didn’t find the net again afterward, but while Moroz was on the ice, the Bison did not concede a single goal. On average, Vadim logged around sixteen minutes per game, registered nine shots on target, and delivered an impressive thirteen hits.

4. Stepan Terekhov, defenseman (2004, Ak Bars)

Player’s rating: 1.52

If looking purely at the stats, Stepan Terekhov’s progress in recent years isn’t all that noticeable, but in reality, it’s there. Against Dinamo Minsk, Terekhov played all four games and was one of the standout performers in Game Two — possibly the decisive one. He scored in regulation and picked up an assist on Nathan Todd’s winner in extra time. Over the course of the series, Terekhov blocked eight shots.

3. Prokhor Poltapov, forward (2003, CSKA)

Player’s rating: 1.60

At the start of the series against Avangard, the Muscovites struggled offensively, and they overcame those issues with direct involvement from Prokhor Poltapov. In Game Three, he set up Jeremy Roy in a prime scoring position for the equalizer, and in Game Four he helped set up Maxim Sorkin before scoring himself on a superb counterattack. In two games, Poltapov logged over twenty minutes of ice time; over the entire series, he registered four shots on goal, blocked five shots, and delivered eight hits.

2. Alexander Smolin, goalie (2003, Metallurg)

Player’s rating: 1.81

For most of the playoffs, Alexander Smolin has been Metallurg’s starting goaltender, displacing his colleague Ilya Nabokov. In the series against Torpedo, he only missed the final game; in each of the previous four, he made at least twenty saves and allowed no more than three goals per game. Overall, he posted a 91.7% save percentage and a 2.10 goals-against average.

1. Yegor Vinogradov, forward (2003, Torpedo)

Player’s rating: 1.85

In the series against Metallurg, Torpedo did not concede a single goal while Yegor Vinogradov was on the ice, and scored three themselves. Two of those were scored by Vinogradov — the OT winner in Game Four and another in Game Five with the score at 1:3. In addition to his scoring, Vinogradov also delivered fifteen hits over the course of the series against Magnitka.