2026 NHL Draft – Top 10 Russian Prospects

Twenty-one Russian players were selected at the 2025 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles, the fourth-highest total by nation. Goaltender Pyotr Andreyanov (Columbus Blue Jackets, #20) was the highest pick, followed by forward Alexander Zharovsky (Montreal Canadiens, #34) and goaltender Semyon Frolov (Carolina Hurricanes, #41). The Hurricanes selected four Russians in total.

10. Alan Shaikhlislamov, Forward

NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 25th (International Skaters)

A fast offensive winger gifted with a good shot and a strong motor, Alan Shaikhlislamov is a hard worker who had a strong season in the Russian Junior League with Tolpar Ufa, collecting 35 points with 18 goals and 17 assists in just 31 regular-season games. He had limited exposure in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), but for the next season, he’s expected to grow as a player and gain some more maturity in his game, as this season he often looked like a forward who needs to use his teammates more and share the puck more, even if he’s often the best shooter on his line.

9. Viktor Fyodorov, Forward

NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 23rd (International Skaters)

Once considered the best 2008-born player in Russia, Viktor Fyodorov didn’t break out as expected, yet he had a solid season in the KHL and showed glimpses of NHL potential in his game. He has also shown some interesting traits, like a resilient approach, good playmaking skills, and a strong work ethic. He’s not likely to become an offensive dynamo in the NHL as he was expected to back in the day, but he has some intangibles that coaches will love.

8. Nikita Shcherbakov, Defenseman

NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 13th (International Skaters)

Nikita Shcherbakov impressed this season with his size and mobility. The young blueliner had his KHL debut, with limited exposure, but he didn’t look out of place, proving that he can play in a more demanding environment at a higher pace.

The big-framed defenseman spent most of the season with Toros Neftekamsk in the Russian second league, where he showed composure, great mobility, and a high level of maturity, even scoring a hat trick in February, setting a league record for such a young blueliner. He’s got great skating skills, but he needs to bulk up to make better use of his big frame. He is very tall at 6-foot-5 and has a great reach, but he needs to build some mass and play a more physical game.

7. Yegor Rybkin, Goalie

NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 2nd (International Goalies)

Yegor Rybkin is a massive goalie from Russia, whose 6-foot-7 frame makes for an imposing presence in the crease and has shown excellent speed even with his size. His ability to seal his posts is admirable, and leaves hardly any easy space for shooters to hit.

However, such a size has its drawbacks, as his massive legs mean there’s a ton of space at the five-hole that closes a lot slower than it does for a smaller goalie. He has a lot of potential, but there are some question marks that surround him before the selections, due to his limited exposure.

6. Gleb Pugachyov, Forward

NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 9th (International Skaters)

A big winger with a strong motor, Gleb Pugachyov is a great project prospect perfectly fit for a bottom-six role in the NHL. With the right development and coaching, he can become a regular player in the league with a focus on physical play, forechecking, and intensity.

He’s got some good potential in a bottom-six role with some scoring abilities. He has a good shot and knows how to put the puck in the back of the net, even if it’s not the strongest aspect of his game. He had a very good season in the KHL and other Russian leagues.

5. Dmitri Borichev, Goalie

NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 1st (International Goalies)

Dmitri Borichev is an athletic goaltender with a strong glove and high-level puck-tracking ability. He consistently positions himself effectively to make saves, rather than relying primarily on his size: an approach that may become a limitation for some goaltending prospects at the junior level.

He has some flaws in his game, but most are common for goalies of his age, and with time, they can be refined until they are hopefully no longer an issue. He is a solid prospect with interesting potential and can be a diamond in the rough for any franchise patient enough to invest in his development.

4. Maksim Sokolovskii, Defenseman

NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 40th (North American Skaters)

At 6-foot-8, Maksim Sokolovskii is one of the tallest players up for the selections in late June, as his size alone makes him an intriguing prospect. However, he has shown excellent flashes, with strong defensive play, a physical side to his game, and even some interesting glimpses in the offensive zone.

He was a big riser on most lists in the second part of the season, and at this point, he can even go higher than expected. Sokolovskii doesn’t hesitate to use his imposing frame to his advantage. He moves well for his size, covering large stretches of ice with efficient, powerful strides. Defensively, he brings patience and composure to his game, rarely making careless decisions: qualities that were a key part of the London Knights’ ability to finish among the top-10 best defensive teams in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) this season.

3. Egor Barabanov, Forward

NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 39th (North American Skaters)

After being overlooked twice, Egor Barabanov finally found his groove this season with the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL. His 91 points were good for fourth in the league, and his 63 assists were second behind the Brantford Bulldogs’ Jake O’Brien. He was part of one of the OHL’s most dynamic lines along with league-leading scorer Nikita Klepov and Dimian Zhilkin.

After a very successful season in the OHL, Barabanov will line up in the NCAA next season as he committed to UMass starting with the 2026-27 campaign. He will be one of the top overagers at this year’s selections.

2. Egor Shilov, Forward

NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 19th (North American Skaters)

Egor Shilov is an extremely skilled offensive player who loves to play the puck in the offensive zone and seems to always know what to do to cause the most damage. He has always produced at whatever level he played, and his rookie season in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) was excellent with 82 points in 63 regular-season games. He also posted five points in a short playoff series against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.

Shilov has all the tools to become a first-round pick with potential to play in a scoring-line role in the NHL. However, his game also means that he’s more of a boom-or-bust player, as it’s hard to imagine him playing in the bottom six. However, his bag of tools alone should guarantee him a pretty high pick.

1. Ilia Morozov, Forward

NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 10th (North American Skaters)

The freshman center was the youngest player in college hockey until Oscar Hemming joined Boston College midseason and has now grown into a first-round player. He had a strong season with Miami University, playing on the top two lines all season and being used in every situation. Even when his offensive production dipped in the second half, he remained reliable and trusted by his coaches.

Ilia Morozov projects as a second or third-line center at the NHL level. His faceoff prowess, two-way commitment, and defensive reliability make him a coach’s dream in terms of deployment — capable of contributing on the power play, penalty kill, at even strength, and in high-pressure situations late in games. That kind of versatility is exactly what NHL rosters are built around.

Plenty of Talent Coming out of Russia

Russia can expect two or three players to hear their names called in the first round, but the real depth of this class will emerge on Day 2. The Hurricanes, in particular, will likely be active — they have made a habit of targeting smooth, mobile Russian defensemen in the middle rounds.