Ilya Nabokov (Photo by HC Metallurg)
The KHL has long been a cornerstone of hockey in Russia, but in recent years, it has ramped up efforts to retain its young stars amid growing competition from the NHL. From lucrative contracts to enhanced development opportunities, the league is pulling out all the stops to keep its brightest talents at home. These measures, including extensions of rookie contract terms and financial incentives, aim to counteract the lure of the NHL’s global stage. However, as the cases of Ilya Nabokov and Danila Yurov show, even the KHL’s best efforts often can’t match the dream of playing in the world’s premier hockey league.
In an exclusive report from RG, two of Russia’s brightest hockey prospects, Ilya Nabokov and Danila Yurov, are preparing to leave the KHL and pursue their NHL dreams. Both players have opted not to negotiate new contracts with their current KHL team, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, setting the stage for a significant move to North America. Their decision has drawn widespread attention from fans and analysts eager to see how their elite skills will translate to the NHL.
These young stars are widely regarded as future cornerstones for their respective NHL franchises, the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild. While their anticipated arrival is still months away, their readiness to take on the next challenge in their careers is evident. With the KHL season extended into late May, questions remain about when exactly Nabokov and Yurov might suit up in the NHL. Their journey to the world’s top hockey league has been years in the making, and the latest developments offer a glimpse of what’s to come without giving everything away just yet.
Nabokov’s Dominance Between the Pipes
Ilya Nabokov, drafted 38th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2024, has already made a name for himself as one of the KHL’s top goaltenders. The 21-year-old was crowned MVP of the 2024 KHL playoffs, showcasing his poise under pressure and elite skill set. This season, Nabokov has been equally impressive, maintaining a 92.6% save percentage across 33 games.
"Andrei Vasilevskiy, Sergei Bobrovsky, Igor Shesterkin—these are Russian goalies who have won the Vezina Trophy as the best goalies in the NHL regular season, and I want to join them," Nabokov said to RG in July. "My goal is to become the best goalie in the world, and I will strive for that. However, first, I must win the award for best goalie in the KHL."
The Avalanche are eager to bring Nabokov into the fold, but the extended KHL season presents a challenge. With the league’s schedule running through May 31, Colorado would need to make the Stanley Cup Finals for any chance of integrating Nabokov during the 2024-25 campaign. Most likely, his NHL debut will have to wait until the 2025-26 season, mirroring the timeline set by Ivan Demidov.
Yurov’s Journey to Minnesota
Danila Yurov, a first-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in 2022 (22nd overall), has continued to develop as a dynamic two-way forward. At just 21, he’s notched 20 points (9 goals, 11 assists) in 37 games this season for Metallurg, proving his ability to contribute offensively while maintaining strong play away from the puck.
Like Nabokov, Yurov’s transition to the NHL is complicated by the extended KHL calendar. While an early playoff exit for Metallurg could technically open the door for him to join Minnesota late in the 2024-25 season, this scenario remains unlikely. Metallurg would need to terminate his contract as an act of good faith, a practice rarely seen with key players, especially during playoff contention.
The precedent for such a move exists, however. Marat Khusnutdinov, another Russian forward and future teammate of Yurov, joined the Wild under similar circumstances when his KHL parent club, SKA St. Petersburg, released him early. However, SKA’s decision was influenced by Khusnutdinov’s lesser role and Sochi missing the playoffs—factors that do not align with Yurov’s critical status at Metallurg.
A Bright Future in the NHL
For both Nabokov and Yurov, their delayed arrival in the NHL is a matter of timing rather than talent. Their eventual debuts in 2025-26 promise to add significant depth and excitement to the Avalanche and Wild, who are eagerly awaiting these young stars’ transitions from KHL standouts to NHL contributors.
Daria Tuboltseva
