Man of the Week: Matvei Kotkov

KHL.ru’s weekly column returns for the new season with young forward Matvei Kotkov. The Lokomotiv youngster kicked off the new campaign on a positive note, scoring the first goal of the new season in his KHL debut match.

The new KHL season could hardly have started better for Matvei Kotkov. Making his League debut for Lokomotiv against Traktor, the 18-year-old forward scored the opening goal of the 2026-2027 campaign, finding the net with his first KHL shot as Nikita Kiryanov found him with a backhand pass right in front of the opposition net. His goal helped set the tone as the defending champions cruised to a 5:1 victory, and immediately put one of the most promising young players in Yaroslavl’s system in the spotlight.

Kotkov is off to a flying start, and his arrival could give the Railwaymen another exciting young option. Lokomotiv has long been one of the KHL’s strongest organizations when it comes to developing young talent, and new head coach Dmitry Kvartalnov has shown from the opening weeks of his return that he is ready to trust them in his usual fashion. Kotkov was among several youngsters given opportunities during the preseason, and he seized his biggest chance when the regular season began.

Early years

Born in Yekaterinburg on August 27, 2008, Kotkov started playing in his hometown, developing in the Avtomobilist system before moving to Yaroslavl. The decision was made in search of a clearer path toward junior and senior hockey. The move quickly paid off. Kotkov progressed through the Yaroslavl system and made his JHL debut with Loko during the 2024-2025 season. He scored ten goals and added 16 assists for 26 points in 33 games, giving an early indication of his offensive potential.

His second JHL campaign brought a major breakthrough. In the 2025-2026 regular season, Kotkov recorded 31 (14+17) points in 36 games. But it was in the playoffs that he truly broke out. Loko went on to win the Kharlamov Cup, and Kotkov produced 15 (9+6) points in 18 games, finishing second in playoff scoring and earning MVP honors. At 17 years and 270 days, he became the youngest player ever to win the playoff MVP award in JHL history.

That postseason performance also highlighted his ability to produce when the stakes are highest. His combination of scoring touch and willingness to compete quickly made him one of the faces of Loko's championship run.

New challenges

The attention surrounding Kotkov extended beyond Russia. At the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, the Boston Bruins selected him in the fourth round, 104^th overall. For now, however, his path remains in Yaroslavl, where he is looking to establish himself at the highest level of Russian hockey.

That opportunity arrived sooner rather than later. Kvartalnov included Kotkov in the main team’s preseason plans, and the young forward responded with energetic performances, even scoring the winning shootout goal against Torpedo. Then came the perfect KHL debut. Against Traktor, Kotkov opened the scoring and became the first player to score in the new KHL season.

For a player who only recently dominated the JHL playoffs, the transition to the KHL represents a completely new challenge. But with his pedigree, his confidence and a coach prepared to put young players on the ice, Kotkov has already made an emphatic first step.