2026 NHL Draft Class Review: Russian Edition

The curtains have closed on the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, held at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. This year’s edition saw a strong Russian presence, with a total of 25 selected across the seven rounds.

Before diving into the analysis, a quick methodological note regarding Nikita Klepov: the Saginaw Spirit forward is excluded from the official count for this article. Although he has publicly stated his readiness to represent Russia internationally in the future, he represented the United States at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August, 2025. For now, he remains outside the scope of this review.

The first round yielded three Russian selections: forward Ilia Morozov (20th overall to the Buffalo Sabres), winger Gleb Pugachyov (26th overall to the Montréal Canadiens), and defenseman Maksim Sokolovskii (27th overall to the Philadelphia Flyers).

Securing three first-rounders aligns perfectly with recent historical trends. While it falls just short of the modern high-water mark of 2023—which saw four Russians taken in the opening round, led by Matvei Michkov—it matches the total from the previous season. This consistency proves that NHL front offices remain highly confident in scouting and drafting top-tier talent out of the MHL and Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

First Round Matters

While seeing three Russian names called in the opening round fits the recent trend, the path these players took to the first round varied wildly. The real talking point of the first round in Russian matters was the contrast between a highly-anticipated lock and two risers.

Ilia Morozov: The Expected Lock

Morozov’s selection at 20th overall by the Buffalo Sabres surprised no one. As the youngest player in college hockey during the 2025-26 season, the 17-year-old forward put up a highly-impressive 20 points in 36 games with Miami Ohio University.

Playing in the NCAA gave NHL scouts a massive advantage: they got to watch him adapt seamlessly to North American ice and hold his own physically against older, matured collegiate athletes. With an advanced two-way game and proven tracking data on smaller ice, Morozov was a safe, virtually-guaranteed first-round commodity as it was confirmed by rankings throughout the whole season.

Pugachyov & Sokolovskii: The Draft Day Wildcards

Conversely, seeing Pugachyov and Sokolovskii sneak into the top 32 was a surprise to consensus draft boards. Neither was widely projected as a first-round lock, but their selections perfectly illustrate a timeless NHL truth: you cannot teach raw size and physical identity.

Pugachyov wasn’t picked for high-end elite offense. Instead, the Canadiens traded up two spots specifically to secure a hulking, 6-foot-3, 200-plus-pound power forward who already made his professional debut against grown men in the KHL. In pre-draft interviews, his aggressive, fearless attitude won management over. He projects as a high-floor, hard-forechecking winger who can survive heavy pro hockey—a physical archetype teams consistently value on draft day.

If Pugachyov was a physical pick, Sokolovskii was an extreme bet on pure stature. Standing at a massive 6-foot-8, the London Knights blueliner was projected by most mainstream rankings to go well into the second or third round, especially after recording just eight points in 44 Ontario Hockey League games. However, his game isn’t about points; it’s about shutting down the opposition, if possible, in the most physical way. Montreal and Philadelphia were willing to ignore traditional point production. They prioritized premium physical intangibles, snagging a 6-foot-3 modern power forward and a 6-foot-8 shutdown pillar before other teams could get to them in the second round.

The Russian Goaltending Factory: A Shift in Momentum

When reflecting on recent drafts, the Russian goaltending pipeline felt almost unstoppable. Last year featured high-profile selections like Pyotr Andreyanov leading the charge, alongside premium talents like Semyon Frolov setting a massive standard for Russian netminders.

The 2026 NHL Draft, however, told a slightly different story. While the Russian factory didn’t completely freeze, the pace we’ve grown accustomed to slowed down, shifting from early-round hype to mid-to-late-round flyers.

The clear prize of this year’s Russian goalie class was Dmitri Borichev. Sporting an ideal 6-foot-3 frame, Borichev put up an elite .929 save percentage over 24 games in the MHL. He ultimately didn’t sneak into day one, but he didn’t wait long on day two: the Nashville Predators snapped him up early in the third round at 70th overall.

Beyond Borichev, NHL teams treated the remaining Russian netminders as developmental projects rather than immediate prize prospects. Instead of the typical early-round run on Russian goalies, the boards saw a slow drip of names called as depth additions, with the Tampa Bay Lightning taking Stepan Shurygin and the Los Angeles Kings drafting Yegor Rybkin.

Blue Line Observations

Following Sokolovskii, the next major Russian defenseman off the board was Nikita Shcherbakov, selected 44th overall by the New Jersey Devils, another imposing player. Standing at 6-foot-5, Shcherbakov spent most of his draft season displaying elite mobility and mature composure for Toros Neftekamsk in Russia’s second-tier pro league VHL —even turning heads by scoring a rare defenseman hat-trick back in February.

Unlike traditional defensive defensemen, Shcherbakov’s fluidity in transition makes him a highly-coveted modern hybrid. He still needs to fill out his frame, but New Jersey recognized his massive reach and high ceiling as an asset worth an early second-round investment.

But size dictated another selection. With their final pick, San Jose selected Alexander Karmanov, officially making him the tallest player ever drafted in NHL history at a staggering 7-foot-1 and 272 pounds. He’s just a bid at this point, but his size alone made him a draft pick and it will be interesting to see whether he’ll have a realistic chance to make the real show.

Skill Still Abundant in Russian Players

Skills have always been a strong tract in Russian talent, and this year’s boards had plenty in Egor Shilov. Selected 43rd overall by the Colorado Avalanche, Shilov spent his draft season lighting up the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Victoriaville Tigres. The highly creative playmaker absolutely dominated major junior rookies, tearing through the league with 82 points (32 goals, 50 assists) in 63 games.

Another highly intriguing, pure-skill forward selected from this Russian class was Viktor Fyodorov. Once widely regarded as the premier 2008-born talent in Russia, Fyodorov’s draft year didn’t feature the explosive statistical breakout some expected, which kept him out of the first-round conversation. The Seattle Kraken selected him on Day 2 of the draft at 99th overall. It was considered a highly-intriguing value pick for Seattle late in the fourth round.

Unexpected Snubs

Considering his season, many expected Alexei Vlasov to be picked. However, his lack of size harmed his chances on the selection days and he ended up undrafted despite a strong QMJHL campaign side-to-side with Shilov in Victoriaville.

Another interesting name up for grabs was Spartak Moscow’s defenseman Vsevolod Matveyev, but his name wasn’t called.

While the 2026 class once again demonstrated the depth of Russian hockey, attention is already beginning to shift toward 2027. Early projections suggest next year’s draft could feature another impressive crop led by high-end talents such as Nazar Privalov, Andrei Pustovoy, Vladimir Shtyrkhunov, Sergei Skvortsov, and Evgeny Yakunin