With the NHL season in full swing and the Edmonton Oilers pushing through their early campaign, it’s worth taking a moment to look beyond North America-because several of the organization’s key prospects are making noise (or in some cases, raising concerns) overseas. The KHL season is well underway, and with the playoffs looming in the new year, three Oilers prospects in Russia are offering very different storylines.
Let’s break down where things stand for Maxim Beryozkin, Nikita Yevseyev, and Maxim Denezhkin-three players who could factor into the Oilers’ future, even if their present paths are playing out thousands of miles away.
Maxim Beryozkin: Searching for Answers in Yaroslavl
Maxim Beryozkin entered the season with high expectations. Ranked as the Oilers’ No. 3 prospect and fresh off a Gagarin Cup win with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, the 6-foot-4 winger had momentum on his side.
He made it clear he planned to spend one more year in the KHL before coming to North America, saying, *“I was invited, but I decided to stay at Lokomotiv for a year to come ready. I want to gain a foothold in the NHL as a leading player.”
That kind of confidence is what you want to hear from a top prospect. But so far, the production hasn’t followed.
Through 34 games, Beryozkin has just two goals and 10 assists. That’s a pace that would mark the lowest scoring output of his pro career.
Now, to be fair, his ice time hasn’t taken a major hit, which suggests the coaching staff still trusts him in their system. But the lack of offensive impact is hard to ignore-especially for a player whose calling card is his offensive upside.
Whether it’s a confidence issue, a change in role, or just one of those stretches where the puck refuses to bounce your way, Beryozkin needs to find a spark. The Oilers are counting on him to be more than just a big body when he eventually makes the jump.
Nikita Yevseyev: Thriving with a Fresh Start
Sometimes a change of scenery makes all the difference, and that’s exactly what Nikita Yevseyev is showing this season.
After struggling to crack the lineup consistently with Ak Bars Kazan-often playing under 10 minutes a night-the 21-year-old defenseman was loaned to Amur Khabarovsk. The move has paid off in a big way. Yevseyev has stepped into a top-four role and responded with two goals and seven assists in 30 games, while logging meaningful minutes.
This is a player who was taken in the sixth round of the 2022 Draft, and while he wasn’t on many fans’ radars at the time, his development this season is changing that. He’s gone from an honorable mention in the Oilers’ prospect rankings to someone who’s very much in the conversation for a future NHL role.
There was buzz around a potential entry-level contract this past summer, and while that didn’t materialize, Yevseyev’s performance in Khabarovsk suggests he’s trending toward a move to North America sooner rather than later. He’s showcasing the kind of poise, puck movement, and defensive awareness that could translate well to the pro game in Edmonton.
Maxim Denezhkin: Breaking Out at the Right Time
If there’s one player in the Oilers’ system who’s flying under the radar but making serious noise, it’s Maxim Denezhkin.
Now 24 and in his fifth KHL season, Denezhkin is finally putting it all together with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Through 29 games, he’s tied for second on the team in scoring with 12 goals and nine assists, all while averaging close to 15 minutes a night. That puts him on pace for a near-50-point campaign-a major jump for a player who’s steadily climbed the ladder since being drafted 193rd overall in 2019.
Denezhkin’s game isn’t flashy, but it’s effective. He plays with a high motor, has solid two-way instincts, and brings a level of maturity that suggests he could be a plug-and-play depth option if he decides to cross the pond. With his contract up at the end of the season and his 25th birthday just around the corner, the timing feels right.
He may not carry the same hype as some of the Oilers’ top-tier prospects, but Denezhkin is making a strong case to be taken seriously as part of the organization’s future forward depth.
Final Thoughts
While Beryozkin’s struggles are a bit of a head-scratcher, Yevseyev and Denezhkin are trending in the right direction-and fast. All three players are at critical points in their development, and how they finish out the KHL season could go a long way in determining when (and how) they make the leap to North America.
For a team like the Oilers, who are always looking to build out their depth and keep the pipeline flowing, these overseas storylines are more than just footnotes. They’re part of the long game-and right now, that game is unfolding on the other side of the world.