KHL TV commentator Anton Vasyatin presents a list of the ten most outstanding young players (U23, born 2003-2008) in the Kontinental Hockey League based on their performance during the first month of the regular season.
This ranking is derived from the League`s “Player Rating,” calculated using an advanced set of statistical metrics.
10. Daniil Orlov, Defenseman (2003, Spartak)
Player Rating: 2.05
Last season, Daniil Orlov steadily emerged as a key player for Spartak, a progression influenced by both teammate injuries and his personal development. At the start of the current regular season, the defenseman continues to be a prominent figure for the red-and-white squad, primarily due to his exceptional skating, which enables him to contribute effectively on both ends of the ice. In September, Orlov was the highest-scoring U23 defenseman, tallying 7 points (2 goals) in 10 games. Nearly every time he registered a point, Spartak secured a victory, defeating Sochi, CSKA, and Traktor twice (the only exception being a close game in Yekaterinburg). Orlov`s goal in Chelyabinsk proved to be the game-winner. He averaged approximately 20 minutes per game, including power play and penalty kill duties.
9. Nikita Evseev, Defenseman (2004, Amur)
Player Rating: 2.19
Nikita Evseev closely follows Daniil Orlov on the U23 defensemen scoring list, having accumulated 5 points in 8 September matches. His notable contributions include a two-assist performance against CSKA, where Khabarovsk secured a 2-0 victory (with Evseev contributing to the game-winning goal), and a power-play goal against Avangard. Despite modest KHL statistics in the previous two seasons, his recent surge isn`t surprising; Evseev made a strong debut in the league years ago as a “limit player.” Now, on loan from Ak Bars, he`s receiving significant ice time (averaging 22 minutes per game – the highest on the Khabarovsk team) and features in all game situations, leading to this predictable breakthrough. In September, Evseev delivered 6 hits, blocked 10 shots, made 2 takeaways, and finished the month with a plus-1 rating.
8. Matvey Nadvorny, Forward (2003, Neftekhimik)
Player Rating: 2.19
While Orlov and Evseev are familiar names, Matvey Nadvorny is a new face for KHL fans. However, his opportunity in the League is well-deserved. Last season marked his first full campaign in senior hockey, and he excelled, becoming one of the VHL`s top goal-scorers and point-producers. As a fast and skillful player, it`s no surprise he`s thriving in Igor Grishin`s system. In September, Nadvorny recorded 4 points, scoring 3 goals in games against Dinamo Minsk, Dinamo Moscow, and Traktor. All goals came at even strength. Remarkably, he achieved this with only 6 shots on goal, translating to an astonishing 50% shooting percentage. He also played an aggressive style, registering 26 hits, making him Neftekhimik`s leading forward in this category by a significant margin.
7. Yaroslav Busygin, Defenseman (2003, Avtomobilist)
Player Rating: 2.50
During the offseason, Yaroslav Busygin moved from Vityaz to Avtomobilist, joining a team with higher aspirations and resources. Despite the change, his defensive role hasn`t diminished; in Yekaterinburg, he averages 17 minutes per game, comparable to his ice time with his previous team. Perhaps his most impactful moment in September was the first period of the season`s opening game in Togliatti. In that twenty-minute span, Busygin was arguably the best player on the ice, almost single-handedly setting up two goals – assisting Brooks Macek and scoring one himself. Since then, he`s added one more assist, which notably came on the game-winning goal against Ak Bars. Busygin registered shots on goal in nearly every game, finished the month with a plus-3 rating, blocked 17 shots, and delivered 17 hits.
6. Matvey Korotky, Forward (2005, SKA)
Player Rating: 2.56
Last season, Matvey Korotky seamlessly transitioned into the KHL, delivering effective performances despite limited ice time. In the revamped SKA lineup, he maintains a similar role (fourth-line center, now also playing on the penalty kill), but his offensive production has increased. In 9 September games, the St. Petersburg forward registered 6 points, evenly split between goals and assists. Korotky scored against Traktor, Lada, and Avangard, with all his goals coming at even strength and proving crucial for Igor Larionov`s team. He finished the month with a plus-3 rating, along with 14 hits, 4 blocked shots, and 4 takeaways. Matvey Korotky is a versatile power forward with few weaknesses, making it likely that he will consistently feature on future lists of the best young players of the month.
5. Anton Silaev, Defenseman (2006, Torpedo)
Player Rating: 2.75
Anton Silaev is the only skater on this list without any points, but in his case, this is no cause for concern, as the Torpedo defenseman excels in other areas. Beating such a physically imposing player with excellent skating ability is a daunting challenge for any opponent. In September, Silaev achieved a plus-5 rating, registered shots on goal in every game (averaging almost 2 shots per match), and led all young players in the League in hits (29) and blocked shots (22). As he did last season, Silaev serves as a crucial defenseman for Torpedo`s penalty kill and an overall vital component of their blueline. With him on the ice, Torpedo conceded only two even-strength goals throughout the month.
4. Egor Zavragin, Goaltender (2005, SKA)
Player Rating: 2.77
Before the start of the regular season, it was unclear which of SKA`s trio of talented goaltenders would emerge as the starter. While the Army Men might not have a distinct number one, Egor Zavragin played slightly more games than his peers in September. He made his KHL season debut on September 19th and has since secured 3 victories in 5 appearances. With Zavragin in net, the St. Petersburg team triumphed over Dinamo Minsk, Lada, and HC Sochi. In every game he played this month, he recorded a minimum of 28 saves, and against Togliatti, Zavragin earned his first shutout of the season.
3. Roman Kantserov, Forward (2004, Metallurg)
Player Rating: 3.18
At the start of the current season, Roman Kantserov has primarily been playing as the center for Metallurg`s top line alongside Dmitry Silantyev and Vladimir Tkachyov. This is a notable development, as Kantserov had not previously held such a role, even in junior hockey. A similar story unfolded a couple of years ago under head coach Andrei Razin when he repositioned winger Danila Yurov to center. Yurov immediately made significant progress, and now Kantserov appears to be on track for his best career season. In September, he played 10 games, accumulating 10 points. Impressively, the forward embarked on an 8-game point streak, starting with the third game of the month when the aforementioned line was formed. Four of his five goals came at even strength, and overall, Kantserov scored against Ak Bars (in two different games), Barys, CSKA, and Sibir. He averaged 2 shots on goal per game, with a remarkable shooting percentage of almost 24%.
2. Egor Vinogradov, Forward (2003, Torpedo)
Player Rating: 3.30
Egor Vinogradov recorded 8 points in September, needing no time to get warmed up, as all his points came within the first 6 games of the season. In the opening game under the new coaching staff, Vinogradov co-authored Nikita Shavin`s beautiful game-winning goal against Salavat Yulaev. In the subsequent match against SKA, he was slated to start in the same role (fourth-line forward) but was shifted to center the second line after Maxim Letunov was sidelined during warm-ups. He played brilliantly, setting up all three Nizhny Novgorod goals, including scoring the overtime winner. Shortly thereafter, the Torpedo forward scored in three consecutive games, finding the net against Spartak, HC Sochi, and Lada. His September plus-minus rating was an impressive plus-4, and his average ice time approached 18 minutes.
1. Egor Surin, Forward (2006, Lokomotiv)
Player Rating: 3.95
Last season, the very young Egor Surin started in a rather modest role. However, over time, due to various circumstances, his skill level, and readiness for adult hockey, he became an established player for Lokomotiv and a leader for Igor Nikitin`s team. He began the new season as if the championship playoffs had never ended. In September, the “railroaders`” forward was one of Yaroslavl`s top scorers and, at the same time, led the list of snipers among all U23 League players (7 goals, 3 assists in 10 games). Throughout the month, he put together a six-game point streak, scoring in games against Traktor (the first goal of the entire championship), Severstal (in two separate matches), CSKA, Lada, Neftekhimik, and Avtomobilist. Two of his goals were game-winners. Surin plays with his characteristic aggressive style – he legally checks opponents (26 times this month), forces turnovers, and is excellent in front of the opposing net, practically attracting scoring chances. Remarkably, his average ice time is only 13 minutes per game, which doesn`t even place him in the top 7 among Lokomotiv`s forwards. This is truly astonishing efficiency.
Neville Woodall