Savikov’s consistency and Poltapov’s scoring. September youngsters

Commentator for KHL TV channels and expert at KHL.ru, Anton Vasyatin, presents the top ten most prominent young players (U23) in the league based on their performance in the last month of the regular season.The list is compiled based on the Player Ratings, which the League calculates using an extensive set of statistical metrics.10. Dmitry Gamzin, goalie (2003, CSKA)Player rating: 2.40CSKA Moscow goalie Dmitry Gamzin had an impressive month. In September, he was entrusted to play three full games, two of which CSKA won. These included matches against Sibir (W, stopping 26 out of 28 shots), Severstal (L, 28 out of 31), and Amur (W, 33 out of 33). The victory against Amur marked the second shutout of the young goalie’s career. Last season, Gamzin demonstrated that he was ready to be a solid backup for CSKA, despite his limited experience in senior hockey. At the start of the new season, there should be no doubts about his place on the team, especially since statistically, he has started the season slightly better than Ivan Prosvetov, who is currently CSKA’s starting netminder.9. Artemy Pleshkov, goalie (2002, SKA)Player rating: 2.41SKA surprised many by choosing to rely on the young Artemy Pleshkov at the start of the regular season rather than Nikita Serebryakov. However, this decision is reminiscent of last season’s start, when Pleshkov played more games than any other goalie on the team for a while. This time, he has also performed well in his role, with SKA securing five wins in September under his watch (two against Lada, and against Torpedo, Avangard, and Severstal). Pleshkov never allowed more than three goals in any game and averaged just over 29 saves per 60 minutes of play. In total, Artemy appeared in nine games, though not all of them were full matches.8. Dmitry Buchelnikov, forward (2003, Vityaz)Player rating: 2.58Dmitry Buchelnikov celebrated his 21st birthday at the start of September, still a very young player, but already someone who can be considered a leader for his teams, including in pro hockey. The newcomer to Vityaz played in ten games throughout September, recording 8 (1+7) points. Early in the season, Buchelnikov managed to score against his former team, Admiral, notching 1 goal and 1 assist, including an even-strength goal. A few days later, he contributed to the game-winning goal in a match against Amur. For the rest of the month, he registered assists in games against Dinamo Minsk, Barys, and once again Admiral (0+3 — participating in all Vityaz’s goals). Buchelnikov recorded shots on target in every game of the month, with an average of almost three shots per game. He also made seven takeaways, ranking second on the team in this category.7. Anton Silayev, defenseman (2006, Torpedo)Player rating: 2.69Just like last season, Anton Silayev had a productive start to the regular season. After ten games in September, he recorded four points, all from assists. These assists came at even strength in games against Avtomobilist, Severstal, Kunlun Red Star, and Admiral — in three of these matches, the Nizhny Novgorod team secured the maximum points. Compared to last season, Silayev’s average ice time has increased to 17 minutes. Currently, he leads Torpedo in both hits (15) and blocked shots (23 — also the top figure on the entire team). With the arrival of Voynov and Phillips in Nizhny Novgorod, Silayev’s power-play time has decreased, but his ice time on the penalty kill has significantly increased.6. Yegor Savikov, defenseman (2002, Spartak)Player rating: 2.78 We are not just talking about a young player here but the second-best in plus-minus rating across the entire league. Yegor Savikov finished September with a plus-9 rating. Throughout the month, Spartak allowed only two even-strength goals while he was on the ice. He also contributed offensively, recording four assists in nine games. His best performance came in the Moscow derby against Dynamo, where Savikov was involved in two goals (scored by Ivan Morozov and Adam Ruzicka). He is, in fact, one of the most productive blueliner in the league, and his potential is still unfolding — so far, Savikov rarely plays on special teams. However, in even-strength situations, he is unmatched. His average ice time of 20:23 per game is the highest in the KHL. This season, the defenseman has not only stood out for his mobility but also shown greater confidence across all areas of the ice.5. Vadim Moroz, forward (2003, Dinamo Minsk)Player rating: 2.90During the offseason, Dinamo Minsk significantly strengthened its roster, but this didn’t negatively impact Vadim Moroz’s role on the team. He consistently plays on the power play, and his average ice time across all formats exceeded 15 minutes in September. In the first month of the season, the young forward netted five goals, two of which were game-winners. His career-best performance came during this period as well, with a hat-trick at even strength against Barys (previously, his best had been 1+1). In total, Moroz earned seven points in eight September games, sharing the title of the team’s top scorer with several other forwards. There are strong indications that he could become one of the team’s best players by the end of the season.4. Danil Aimurzin, forward (2002, Severstal)Player rating: 3.15Being the first-line center for one of the most creative offensive teams in the League is a serious role, and Danil Aimurzin has long shown that he’s up to the task. In eleven September games, the Severstal forward recorded twelve points, including seven goals. Across the entire League, he trails only his linemate Kirill Pilipenko in goals scored. Aimurzin found the back of the net in games against Torpedo (twice), Sibir, Dinamo Minsk (twice), and SKA. Five of his goals came at even strength. He also won about 50% of faceoffs, slightly improving on previous seasons. On average, Aimurzin shot on goal at least three times per game, underscoring his ability not only to assist his teammates but also to finish scoring chances himself. The chemistry within Severstal’s top line is excellent, and Aimurzin plays a crucial role in its success.3. Ivan Demidov, forward (2005, SKA)Player rating: 3.28Ivan Demidov is a player whose game is currently being closely watched by people from all over the world. The expectations for his performance before the start of the season were substantial, and so far, the SKA forward is living up to his status as one of the top contenders for the KHL Rookie of the Year title. In September, he recorded eight points, evenly split between goals and assists. All of Demidov’s goals came at even strength, scoring against Lada, HC Sochi, and Severstal. The match against Sochi turned out to be the best of his professional career, even if it’s still far from his MHL numbers, where he once notched seven points in a single game. However, two goals and two assists in an official KHL game is impressive in itself. In terms of individual skill, Demidov is already one of the best players in the entire League.2. Nikita Artamonov, forward (2005, Torpedo)Player rating: 3.83September was somewhat inconsistent for Torpedo. Igor Larionov’s team struggled with losses early on, and forward Nikita Artamonov went through his first three games without a single shot on goal. However, a lot changed for the young player after Torpedo’s victory over CSKA. In that OT game in Moscow, it was Artamonov who scored the winning goal. He then ended the month with an impressive six-game point streak. During this stretch, the Nizhny Novgorod forward recorded five goals and as many assists, making him one of the top scorers in the KHL for September. His goals came against Severstal (a double), Admiral, Amur, and Barys, with his shots proving decisive in the last two matches. His shooting percentage stood at an impressive 33.3%, especially considering he averaged just over 12 minutes of ice time per game.1. Prokhor Poltapov, forward (2003, CSKA)