Danila Yurov (Photo by KHL.ru)
Minnesota Wild prospect Danila Yurov is excited to start his NHL career after signing a three-year, entry-level contract beginning with the 2025-26 season. This milestone fulfills a lifelong dream for the young forward from Russia.
“It’s a new chapter,” Yurov said in a one-on-one interview with RG Media. “I’ve been working toward this goal and this dream since I was a kid. I really started believing I could make it to the NHL when I was about 13, around the time I started playing for the national team and got experience on the international stage. That’s when I realized I’d be willing to do whatever it takes to get to the NHL.”
Yurov, 21, is coming off a strong season with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), where he scored 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 46 games. He also finished second on his team with a plus-15 rating. The previous year, he set career highs with 49 points (21 goals, 28 assists) in 62 games, marking the highest-ever KHL point total by a player 20 or younger.
Ready for the Challenge
Deciding about a year ago that it was the right time to leave the KHL, Yurov expressed confidence in taking the next step.
“I knew I was going to make the move about a year ago,” Yurov explained. “I felt it was time to leave my comfort zone and head somewhere where I don’t know anyone, where I’ll have to start from scratch and prove myself all over again. I wanted to be in a place where I can train with and compete against the best players in the world. I’m excited to experience all of it—not just imagine it, but live it.”
He feels prepared for the transition, especially defensively, thanks to strong coaching throughout his development.
“People often talk about adapting to the defensive side of the game, but to be honest, that’s not something I’m too worried about,” Yurov noted.
“I’ve had great coaches both at the club and national level who’ve helped me grow in that area. Even though I’ve always played as an offensive-minded center, I’ve never ignored my responsibilities in other zones.”
Yurov chose jersey number 22, which Wild connected to the famous American novel Catch-22. But for him, it’s a more personal connection.
“It’s my birthday, and I’ve been wearing number 22 since I was 12,” Yurov said. “It worked out perfectly that the number was available here, too. I wore it in Russia as well. Funny enough, they didn’t even ask me about it—it was just assigned right away.”
His goal for his first NHL season is clear:
“The main goal is to earn a spot on the roster and stay there,” Yurov explained. “I want to improve in every area—get stronger physically, better understand the game, and develop all of my skills. My focus is just to get better every day and work on myself. We’ll see where that takes me by the end of the season. I’m taking things one day at a time.”
Yurov remains open to playing in the American Hockey League (AHL) if necessary.
“Absolutely,” Yurov said. “I’m ready to face whatever challenges come my way. If I wasn’t, then there’d be no point in making the move.”
A Summer of Preparation
This summer, he is preparing by training in Magnitogorsk and plans to move to the U.S. in mid-June.
Yurov doesn’t yet know much about Wild coach John Hynes but plans to get advice from fellow Russian NHL players.
“Not much yet,” Yurov said. “I’ll probably talk to some of the Russian players and get some insight. In general, I’m ready to follow the game plan of any coach.”
Though he hasn’t spoken yet with Kirill Kaprizov or Yakov Trenin, he received valuable advice from other players with NHL experience.
“The main advice they gave me was to learn the language and be confident—don’t be shy,” Yurov shared.
“I’ve been studying English, trying my best, but it’s tough without regular practice. I’m hoping to make real progress over the summer.”
Reflecting on Minnesota’s recent playoff series against Vegas, Yurov noted the experience factor.
“Yes, I followed it,” Yurov said. “Vegas probably won thanks to their experience. It was a close series—really competitive. In the end, little details made the difference. One shift, one mistake, and the outcome changes.”
Finally, Yurov has a warm message for Wild fans:
“Thank you for all the excitement around my signing,” Yurov said. “I’ll do my best to make you proud with my play from day one. Come to the arena—we’ll work hard to give you wins and some highlight-reel goals.”
Sergey has been in sports journalism since 2007 as a reporter, editor, and manager. He has covered the Olympic Games, soccer World Cups, the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, the European championships, the Stanley Cup Finals, IOC events, and many others. Sergey interviewed the sport's greatest athletes, coaches, and executives. Since 2016, he has been an Independent Senior Editor of NHL.com/ru.
