Russia Stock Watch: Ivan Demidov keeps getting better

Narrowing down the list for the risers part of this article was the toughest in all of the Stock Watches I’ve done to this point. Players like Dmitri Buchelnikov and Arseni Gritsyuk put together incredible months in the KHL, yet missed the cut, and the goaltending displays throughout all three levels of Russian hockey were just as impressive.

We’re about a third of the way through the year already and it seems like just about every drafted prospect has found their level. Whether it be ripping goals like Nikita Artamonov or putting up goose eggs on the scoresheet for the full month, we’re seeing players elevate themselves to be top players and others failing to take the right steps forward to shift from a useful KHL player to true NHL prospect status. 

Stock Rising 📈

Ivan Demidov, LW, SKA St. Petersburg (Montréal Canadiens)

It’s almost wrong to put Ivan Demidov in this category because it seems like his stock can’t get any higher. This month has proven that he may still be getting undersold as a truly elite tier of player. His eleven points only trailed his SKA teammate, Arseni Gritsyuk, for the best production for a drafted prospect in the KHL throughout October.

What’s most impressive about Demidov’s offensive output is that he’s doing it in limited minutes. He remains stapled to the third line with little to no time on the power play and he played less than 10 minutes in half of his games played this past month. The pressure is still on him to not just play well, but play so well that he forces head coach, Roman Rotenberg, to give him a fair crack out there.

[Read More: Despite limited minutes Ivan Demidov is proving himself in the KHL]

Daniil But, LW, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Utah Hockey Club)

Daniil But’s development over the course of his hockey career has been a spectacle. There were many plays in the first half of his draft-eligible season that led to scratching heads and sighs; however, that turned around in the back half and he hasn’t slowed down since Utah took the swing on him at 12th overall in 2023.

Now, But is a dangerous part of this Lokomotiv team. He puts together insane sequences of puck handling and skating, making you forget that this is a 6-foot-6 behemoth of a hockey player. The sense has improved to a much higher level than where it was when he was drafted. He’s attacking the middle with well-timed handles, generating dangerous chances with his vision, and taking advantage of the space he creates. He’s on pace to double his point total from last season, and it seems entirely possible that he’ll reach that target if he continues to play with this much quality and consistency. 

Nikita Artamonov, LW, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (Carolina Hurricanes)

Last year, Nikita Artamonov got off to one of the hottest starts for all draft-eligible prospects and put together one of the most productive seasons for a U20 player in KHL history. After 22 games this year, he’s already nearly matched his 23 points from last season and has shown no signs of slowing down, sitting tied for third for the most goals in Russia’s top league.

Artamonov’s off-puck timing and awareness have always been a strength, garnering him chances on a consistent basis last season, but he only managed to find the back of the net seven times. His finishing ability has taken a clear step forward with a more powerful shot and a quicker release, he’s been able to shift from a player who gets high-quality shots to a lethal finisher. 

There have also been improvements with Artamonov's confidence and creativity. In his MHL days, he was a dangle machine. As he moved into the KHL, he switched to a more conservative approach to his handling. Now, he’s working dynamic puck skills back into his game, which meshes very well with his high pace and high intelligence.

Lavr Gashilov, C, Avto Yekaterinburg (2026 NHL Draft)

Lavr Gashilov was arguably the best player in the MHL over the past month. Avto only played seven games in October, but the 17-year-old came to play in all of them, notching 12 points and five straight multi-point games. 

One word to describe Gashilov is efficient. He utilizes every single touch of the puck to generate plays, whether that be through transitions or sequencing plays through the offensive zone, he brings a strong sense of security and success on a shift by shift basis. With less than 30 MHL games under his belt at this point, he plays like he’s been around the block before. His possession game is incredible, drawing pressure to open up lanes, quick passing, and impressive handling skill to problem solve. 

Honourable Mentions: Ivan Tkach-Tkachenko (2025 NHL Draft), Stepan Gorbunov (Florida Panthers), Artyom Gonchar (2025 NHL Draft), Magomed Sharakanov (2025 NHL Draft), Arseni Gritsyuk (New Jersey Devils)

Stock Steady ↔️

Roman Kantserov, RW, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (Chicago Blackhawks)

Roman Kantserov was one of many players to put his body on the line for playoff hockey, and, as a result, he missed the entirety of the beginning of the year and just played his first game on October 21st.

Luckily, he’s earned his spot with Magnitogorsk, so he was able to slot right back into the lineup to try to pick up where he left off in the Gagarin Cup Playoffs. Through his first three games back, he seems to be doing just that, picking up an assist in his season debut and a goal in the following game against Avangard Omsk. It’s a positive sight to see him get right back into his game after missing valuable training and game time and if he can keep up his scoring rate, he should find his way up to a different spot in this article later on.

Stock Falling 📉

Timur Mukhanov, LW, Severstal Cherepovets (Carolina Hurricanes)

After a promising rookie season with Cherepovets last year, Timur Mukhanov has fallen into a real sophomore slump. Through his first 19 games, he’s registered just two points and failed to get on the scoresheet the entire month of October. This puts him on pace for a meagre eight points if he plays all 46 remaining games.

The bright side of it all is that things aren’t all bad. Mukhanov is playing limited minutes, starting out the year getting about eight minutes a game, before getting bumped up marginally, and now he’s moving back toward where he started. He’s still showing off his high motor and work rate on a consistent basis and displaying more confidence with the puck. At the end of the day, though, this is a player who is already facing tough odds as a 5-foot-9 winger. He’ll need to find positive form to earn a better role with this Severstal team or face the chances of stagnating his development. 

Bogdan Konyushkov, D, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (Montréal Canadiens)

Sticking with players who went quiet throughout October, Bogdan Konyushkov failed to record a point in all nine of his matches. Over the last three seasons, he became a prospect to watch due to his big role and production with Torpedo. His current trajectory looks like a step down from his first two seasons with the main club. He has just five points this season, with the majority coming against weak opposition. 

Konyushkov’s path to the NHL is hindered by his very safe and basic brand of hockey. He’s already proven that he has what it takes to be a staple, top-four defenceman at the highest level of Russian hockey, but there’s a missing ‘it factor’ to his game that limits his upside to potentially being just that in the future. This year, he hasn’t taken a step forward in his development and looks like the same player as his past two seasons. His strong production looks like it could be a thing of the past at this point.