Nikolai Makarov (Photo by Denis Bushkovskiy, Match TV)
CSKA Moscow defenseman Nikolai Makarov is reportedly on his way to the NHL. According to RG sources, the 22-year-old is set to sign a two-year, entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The two-way deal will begin next season. Makarov was selected by Columbus in the fifth round (132nd overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft.
Makarov split the 2024–25 season between CSKA and its VHL affiliate, Zvezda. He appeared in 11 KHL regular-season games, finishing with a plus-1 rating but no points. In the VHL, he played a larger role, registering 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists) across 41 games. He added two assists in seven playoff appearances, though Zvezda failed to advance past the first round.
A Surprising Departure
The young blueliner has informed CSKA that he will not renew his contract and intends to continue his career in North America. According to RG sources, the decision surprised the club, which remains cautious in its assessment of Makarov’s NHL potential.
A left-shot defenseman with solid vision, physicality, and strong gap control, Makarov is seen as a potential bottom-pairing option at the NHL level, particularly on the penalty kill.
Makarov began his hockey development with Molot in his hometown of Perm before joining the CSKA system at age 16. He won silver with the Russian national team at the 2021 IIHF U18 World Championship and debuted in the KHL during the 2020–21 season. In 2022–23, he was part of CSKA’s Gagarin Cup–winning roster under head coach Sergei Fedorov, a Hockey Hall of Famer and three-time Stanley Cup champion. That season, Makarov logged 18 regular-season games and 27 playoff appearances.
In interviews, Makarov has emphasized the emotional and communal aspects of the sport.
“I can’t live without training — when you get really tired, there’s a kind of euphoria from it,” he told the KHL’s official website. “The atmosphere of the games and the emotions from the fans bring incredible joy. Hockey teaches you to stand your ground, show character, and work within a team.”
Daria Tuboltseva
