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Danila Yurov

Central Notes: Yurov, Benn, Goodman

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The Minnesota Wild have a clear plan for their newly signed prospect. According to Jessi Pierce of NHL.com, General Manager Bill Guerin expects Danila Yurov to be a center to start his professional career in North America.

There’s credibility toward the Wild’s thought process. Over the last two years with the KHL’s Metallurg Magnitogorsk, Yurov spent much of his time down the middle, securing a faceoff success rate of 41.0% in 2023-24 and 47.3% in 2024-25. That success rate would have placed him third among Wild forwards who totalled more than 500 draws this past season, although it’s unrealistic to think Yurov would have been as successful in the NHL.

Still, the idea of Yurov as a center comes with complications. Joel Eriksson Ek and Marco Rossi should already be next year’s top two centers, leaving Yurov for a third-line role at best. Yurov didn’t showcase as a defensive liability in the KHL, but he doesn’t have as much defensive prowess as teams would likely expect out of their bottom-six centers.

Other notes from the Central Division:

  • Dallas Stars’ captain Jamie Benn won’t leave Game 5 unscathed. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced they’ve fined Benn $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for his roughing penalty on Mark Scheifele. The play resulted in 26 combined PIMs to Benn, Scheifele, and Brandon Tanev.
  • According to an article from Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus of The Athletic, the Chicago Blackhawks have made a minor move on their bench. The pair of writers shared that the Blackhawks have relieved strength and conditioning coach, Paul Goodman, of his duties. Goodman had been one of Chicago’s longest-tenured employees, joining the club ahead of the 2008-09 season and winning three Stanley Cup rings.

Wild Sign Danila Yurov To Entry-Level Contract

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The Wild have signed top forward prospect Danila Yurov to his entry-level contract, the team confirmed. The three-year deal starts next season and carries a $950K cap hit, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports. Yurov can also earn up to $2MM in performance bonuses each season ($1MM in Schedule A, $1MM in Schedule B) as part of the deal, Russo adds.

Yurov was released from his contract with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Kontinental Hockey League late last month, so he was free to sign with Minnesota before the KHL contract year ends on May 31. Negotiations between Yurov and Wild general manager Bill Guerin have likely been ongoing for the past few weeks, as with most ELCs, the time between becoming eligible to sign and signing likely hinged on performance bonus negotiations.

The 21-year-old right-winger arrives in Minnesota nearly three years after the Wild selected him 24th overall in the 2022 draft. He was widely regarded as a top-15 prospect in the class but fell to later in the first round due to concerns over his contract status with Metallurg.

With parts of five seasons of pro hockey in the KHL and a Gagarin Cup championship under his belt, Yurov will now focus on making his NHL debut as part of the Wild’s opening night roster in the fall. The 6’1″, 176-lb forward is one year removed from a spectacular 21-goal, 49-point showing with a +22 rating in 62 games for Magnitogorsk to lead them in scoring as the club won its third championship since the KHL’s inception in 2008.

This year was less impressive offensively for Yurov, who battled injuries and was limited to a 13-12–25 scoring line in 46 games (a 0.54 points per game pace). He still finished second on Metallurg with a +15 rating but was limited to one goal in five playoff games as their postseason came to a quick end.

Yurov is nonetheless the crown jewel of Minnesota’s forward prospect pool, Scott Wheeler of The Athletic wrote a few months back. While a natural winger, he has played a fair bit of center in his home country and could eventually slot in for the Wild. His up-and-down production in the KHL indicates that Yurov’s everyday first-line role may be a tad optimistic. Still, he’s got an excellent chance of settling in as a long-term complementary top-six piece for the Wild, even as soon as out of the gate in 2025-26.

Danila Yurov Released From KHL Contract

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Top Wild prospect Danila Yurov has been released from his contract with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Kontinental Hockey League a few weeks ahead of schedule, the league announced. Minnesota is now eligible to sign the 21-year-old to his entry-level deal, although Michael Russo of The Athletic reports no contract is in place yet.

Still, it’s incredibly likely Yurov is in St. Paul for training camp next fall and, if all goes to plan, will be on the Wild’s opening night roster. The No. 24 overall pick in the 2022 draft went lower than most expected given his skill level, largely due to his contract status with Magnitogorsk.

For Minnesota, he’ll be a player worth waiting for. He was the top forward in their system and second-ranked prospect overall behind defenseman Zeev Buium in Scott Wheeler of The Athletic’s midseason rankings, and for good reason. A well-rounded 6’1″, 176-lb right-winger, Yurov has posted 41-47–88 in 209 career KHL games over the last five years with Metallurg. That included a team-leading 21-28–49 scoring line in 62 games in 2023-24 before leading Magnitogorsk to a Gagarin Cup.

This season wasn’t as productive for Yurov. Injuries took a bite out of his campaign, and he was limited to 46 of Metallurg’s 68 regular-season games. His point per game rate dropped off when dressed, and he finished the year with 13-12–25 and a +15 rating, the latter of which ranked second on the team. He was limited to one goal in five playoff games as the defending champions were stamped out of the first round of the KHL playoffs by Avangard Omsk.

If all goes to plan, Yurov should be a cost-effective addition to the top nine that allows more cap space for the Wild to devote toward a new deal for pending RFA center Marco Rossi as well as external additions in free agency. If he doesn’t crack the opening night roster, though, don’t expect him to report to Minnesota’s AHL in Iowa.

Any ELC will likely include a clause that allows the Wild to loan Yurov back to Metallurg, who retains his KHL rights, if he doesn’t make the team. It’s probably for the best. Iowa hasn’t served as a good developmental partner for the Wild in the past few years, finishing well under the .500 mark for the second straight season in 2024-25.

Snapshots: Larsson, Yurov, Oshie

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Swedish goaltender Filip Larsson has announced he is leaving the SHL’s Leksands IF to pursue an NHL contract, as reported by the team (Twitter link). Larsson just wrapped up his first full season in the SHL, posting an admirable 19 wins and .920 save percentage through 28 regular season games. It was tied for the highest save percentage in the SHL among goalies with 20 or more starts, alongside veteran Lars Johansson, who posted a .920 in 40 games.

Larsson, 25, was formerly a Detroit Red Wings draft pick, hearing his name called in the sixth round of the 2016 NHL Draft. He came over to America in the subsequent season, playing one year with the USHL’s Tri-City Storm before moving to the University of Denver for a year. He posted strong stats through both juniors and college, posting a .941 and .932 save percentage in the respective seasons. However, his strong performances fell flat when Larsson turned pro in the 2019-20 season. He spent the bulk of the year as a backup searching through starts in the AHL and ECHL – ultimately posting a .843 in seven AHL games and a .910 in 10 ECHL games.

Larsson moved back to Sweden for the 2020-21 COVID season and has since climbed the ranks through Sweden’s second-tier league, the HockeyAllsvenskan. He recorded 30 wins and a .918 save percentage across three seasons and 60 games in the league. Those appearances, and one spot start in the SHL, were all Larsson had to go on when he took on Leksands’ starting role this year. And he still performed well, even adding a .929 save percentage through five postseason appearances. Rather than settle down too much, Larsson is now trying to seize that momentum and make a return to North American pros. While his track in North America could’ve been better, Larsson has shown exactly what he’s capable of with dominant years throughout Swedish hockey. He’ll undoubtedly be a free agent to follow, with so many NHL teams vying for new and impactful goaltending.

Other notes from around the league:

  • Top Minnesota Wild prospect Danila Yurov is reportedly set to sign a one-year extension in the KHL as soon as tomorrow, per Michael Russo of The Athletic (Twitter link). This news comes after Yurov completed his championship run with Magnitogorsk Metallurg. He led the team in regular season scoring, with 21 goals and 49 points in 62 games, and added nine points in 23 playoff games. Minnesota drafted Yurov as the 24th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, and they will now have to wait one more year to bring him to North America.
  • It was revealed after their Game 4 loss that Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie played through the elimination game with a broken hand, shares The Hockey News’ Sammi Silber (Twitter link). It was linemate Dylan Strome who revealed Oshie’s injury while praising him for being such a great teammate. Strome added that fans don’t know the full extent of things Oshie has to do to prepare for a game, which certainly makes sense after the veteran forward suffered a seemingly endless string of injuries this year. He was limited to just 52 games this season, scoring 12 goals and 25 points. He has one year left on his deal, but after reaching 1,000 games and battling through injuries, there’s a chance the 37-year-old Oshie could bring his career to a close. On that idea, Strome says, “If it is his last game, he’s a hell of a warrior, hell of a guy. Everything you can ask for in a teammate.”

Central Notes: Yurov, Stastney, Hayes

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Wild prospect Danila Yurov won’t be making the jump to North America next season after all, at least at the start.  Championnat’s Pavel Novikov reports that the 20-year-old has inked a one-year extension with Magnitogorsk Metallurg of the KHL, keeping him signed through next season.  Yurov was the 24th overall selection back in 2022 and had a particularly impressive showing this year, notching 21 goals and 28 assists in 62 games, good for the team lead in scoring while finishing 17th in points league-wide.  Countryman Marat Khusnutdinov went to the NHL after his KHL campaign ended back in February and since Minnesota hasn’t signed Yurov to an entry-level deal yet, it’s possible that he follows that path next season.

More from the Central:

  • The Predators lost Friday’s third game against Vancouver and also lost a blueliner in the process with the team announcing (Twitter link) that Spencer Stastney suffered an upper-body injury. The injury occurred early in the first period on a hit from Dakota Joshua; a major penalty for boarding was initially assessed before being dropped to a minor.  Postgame, head coach Andrew Brunette didn’t have an update on Stastney’s condition.  The 24-year-old only played in 20 games during the regular season but has suited up in all three postseason games so far.
  • The Blackhawks have re-assigned prospect Gavin Hayes to the minors, per an announcement from their AHL affiliate in Rockford. The winger was a third-round pick in 2022 (66th overall) and split the season between OHL Flint and Soo, combining for 37 goals and 39 assists in 55 games along with 16 points in 11 postseason contests for the Greyhounds.  Hayes has already signed his entry-level deal and will now get a taste of professional hockey before playing there full-time next season.

Minnesota May Allow Danila Yurov To Remain In KHL

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It has been a poorly kept secret the Minnesota Wild were banking heavily on overseas prospects such as Danila Yurov, Liam Ohgren, and Marat Khusnutdinov coming to North America next year, infusing their forward core with a young jolt of offense. Nevertheless, in an article (subscription required) from Michael Russo of The Athletic, Yurov may sign an extension in the KHL, and the Wild may be more than satisfied with that scenario.

Drafted 24th overall by Minnesota in the 2022 NHL Draft, Yurov had a disappointing start to his career in the KHL the following year with Metallurg Magnitogorsk. In 59 regular season games, Yurov was rarely used by Metallurg and only went on to score six goals and 12 points in total. Metallurg would make it as far as the Eastern Conference semifinals in last year’s Gagarin Cup playoffs, but would ultimately be swept by Avangard Omsk.

This season, both Yurov and the team are on entirely different trajectories. Now, being one of the most used forwards on the team in all situations, Yurov has 12 goals and 27 points in 38 games, tied for the top of the team in both categories. The organization, on the other hand, has 57 points so far this season, sitting at the top of the Eastern Conference.

Given his seemingly constant communication with the Wild organization, the situation appears dissimilar to the correspondence between the team and fellow countrymen, Kirill Kaprizov, when he was first drafted back in 2015. However, with a reasonable idea that he could have had a home in Minnesota’s top-six next year, much of that hope was fazed out this past summer after extensions were given to Mats Zuccarello, Marcus Foligno, and Ryan Hartman.

With Kaprizov, as well as Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek all locked up long-term as well, it may take longer than expected for these prospects to make the jump to North America without the promise of an opportunity to be higher up in the team’s forward core. Given the number of available spots on the roster, it appears that the General Manager and President of Hockey Operations for the team, Bill Guerin, is resolute in his reasoning that this may be the best approach moving forward.

If all these players stayed in their professional leagues overseas, Minnesota would not have as much of a direct hand in their development as they may like, but it would likely serve as a better experience than growing in the American Hockey League. Whatever the case may be, all signs indicate the Wild still hold a strong relationship with their overseas prospects and will be able to influence the direction they do ultimately take.

West Notes: Canucks, Yurov, Labanc

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Following last week’s signing of Pius Suter, the Canucks find themselves even further above the $83.5MM cap ceiling with more than $88MM in commitments per CapFriendly and with a surplus of forwards.  Thomas Drance of The Athletic examines (subscription link) how Vancouver can get cap-compliant even with Tanner Pearson’s potential return from LTIR.  It would require carrying a 22-man roster instead of the maximum of 23 and would require at least three players to go on waivers, one of which needs to make at least $1.15MM.  That would give them less than $150K in wiggle room, however, so it wouldn’t be surprising if GM Patrik Allvin looks to make a move or two to try to give themselves at least a bit of flexibility.

More from the Western Conference:

  • Minnesota is open to trying to turn prospect Danila Yurov into a center down the road, relays NHL.com’s Jessi Pierce. The 19-year-old was a first-round pick (22nd overall) by the Wild last year and is set to remain with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL next season before coming to North America.  Generally speaking, teams often allow center prospects to develop on the wing to start so it might take some time before Minnesota determines whether this is an experiment worth pursuing.  However, finding and developing an impact young middleman has proven to be a challenge in recent years so if Yurov could be up to the task down the road, he’d help fill a big organizational void.
  • With the Sharks adding four forwards to their roster this summer, there aren’t many openings up front for prospects. One idea to open up a spot would be to waive and demote frequent speculative trade candidate Kevin Labanc but Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News believes that option would be a far-fetched one.  The 27-year-old is entering the final year of his contract which carries a $4.725MM AAV.  Labanc has shown he can still produce after notching 15 goals in 72 games last season although that’s not a great return on their investment.  San Jose has one salary retention slot remaining for 2023-24 and burying Labanc in the minors for any period of time would likely hurt their chances of moving him with 50% retention later in the year.

Prospect Notes: Carlsson, Clara, Wild

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The Ducks drafted center Leo Carlsson with the second-overall pick in the draft last month and he is widely considered to be one of the most NHL-ready prospects of this draft class.  However, Carlsson’s agent Matt Keator told Jim Alexander of The Press-Enterprise that there is no rush for him to make a decision on where the youngster will play in 2023-24.  Carlsson is under contract for two more years with Orebro of the SHL but as Carlsson is a first-round pick and Sweden has a transfer agreement with the NHL, a contract with Anaheim can supersede that.  Carlsson had 25 points in 44 games last season in Sweden’s top division and a decision on where he plays next season will be jointly made between him and the team.

Other prospect news from around the hockey world:

  • There were a total of a dozen NHL-drafted players in the recently-completed CHL Import Draft. One name that wasn’t on that list was Ducks goaltender Damian Clara.  Lisa Dillman of the Orange County Register notes that several CHL squads expressed an interest in bringing over the 18-year-old Italian but that the netminder remained committed to playing on loan in Sweden’s second-tier Allsvenskan next season with Brynas.  He has two years remaining on his deal over there but if things don’t go as planned for him next season, Clara would be eligible for selection in the Import Draft next summer as well.
  • Wild prospects Danila Yurov and Liam Ohgren both intend to play in North America in 2024-25, relays Joe Smith of The Athletic (subscription link). The pair were first-round picks back in 2022, going 19th and 22nd overall, respectively, and are two of Minnesota’s top prospects.  Both are under contracts with their club teams (Metallurg Magnitogorsk for Yurov and Farjestad for Ohgren) next season but the plan is for Yurov to sign once that contract expires while Ohgren, already signed, will have his deal slide once more.  The Wild will need an influx of young, cost-controllable talent and these two could push to make the jump to the NHL right away once they sign.

Danila Yurov Signs KHL Extension

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Minnesota Wild fans are all too familiar with the struggle of getting Russian players to North America can be. They had to wait years for Kirill Kaprizov to finally make his way to the NHL, despite everyone knowing he was talented enough to excel there. The current political climate affecting relationships between the two leagues could prove even more difficult. You can understand why there was trepidation, then, when they picked Danila Yurov 24th overall last year.

After spending the full 2022-23 season in the KHL, the 19-year-old forward has re-signed with Magnitogorsk. Michael Russo of The Athletic reports it is just a one-year extension, however, which is rather unusual for young players and potentially good news for the Wild. That means Yurov’s deal will expire at the end of 2023-24, and provide him with another opportunity to come to Minnesota, if he feels that’s best for his development.

This season, Yurov averaged just over eight minutes a game during the regular season, and even less in the playoffs. While that’s not totally unusual for a young player just trying to break in, the KHL also has a habit of limiting the exposure for players they expect to leave Russia in the coming years. It is often only when a new contract is signed that they receive a boost in ice time.

Whether this new one-year deal will result in more playing time for Yurov isn’t clear, but the talented forward showed he could still produce even in limited action. He had six goals and 12 points, and Metallurg outscored opponents 20-12 when he was on the ice. While Minnesota focuses on their current team and chasing a Stanley Cup, the front office will keep an eye on Yurov’s development overseas. He could be a significant piece, should they be able to bring him over in the coming years.

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