M. Fyodorov, Polyakov, and Zharovsky finalists for Rookie of the Year

KHL.ru presents the finalists for the Alexei Cherepanov award, whose recipient is the top rookie of the 2025-2026 season.

The Alexei Cherepanov award recipient is determined by a vote among all the Kontinental Hockey League teams’ representatives. Metallurg’s Mikhail Fyodorov, SKA’s Matvei Polyakov, and Salavat Yulaev’s Alexander Zharovsky are the three finalists for the 2025-2026 edition.

Mikhail Fyodorov (Metallurg)

66 games, 16 (9+7) points

Over the course of the season, Mikhail Fyodorov was named Rookie of the Week three times and Rookie of the Month once, claiming the September award. He was also the only player among the trio to earn Rookie of the Playoff Round honors.

Matvei Polyakov (SKA)

68 games, 29 (16+13) points

Over the course of the season, Matvei Polyakov was named Rookie of the Week five times and Rookie of the Month twice, claiming the honors in February and March, the final two months of the regular season.

Alexander Zharovsky (Salavat Yulaev)

69 games, 44 (16+28) points

Zharovsky was Ufa’s leading scorer for most of the season, but towards the end he was overtaken by Sheldon Rempal and Jack Rodewall. However, the 19-year-old forward still finished as the team’s third-highest scorer. Zharovsky was named Rookie of the Week four times and Rookie of the Month three times.

Ilya Proskuryakov, Anatoly Nikontsev, Pavel Zdunov, Dmitry Lugin, Valery Nichushkin, Andrei Vasilevsky, Maxim Mamin, Artem Alyayev, Vladimir Tkachyov, Vitaly Kravtsov, Ilya Konovalov, Artyom Galimov, Yegor Chinakhov, Arseny Gritsyuk, Nikita Grebyonkin, Ilya Nabokov, and Ivan Demidov have won this award in the past.

The Closing Ceremony for the 2025-2026 season will be held on May 28, 2026.