Not only is the Edmonton Oilers and NHL season underway but overseas, the respective professional hockey leagues have been playing for even longer and many are soon to hit the playoffs in the new year.
The Oilers have a number of highly touted and important prospects developing in various nations, leagues, and at different levels. It is an important part of the current hockey landscape and the Oilers have definitely shown a willingness to invest in European players.
Specifically looking at the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia, the Oilers have three prospects that are all having notable seasons in 2025-26.
Maxim Beryozkin continues to struggle
Since the start of the season it has been a legitimate storyline amongst Oilers prospect enthusiasts, the lack of production from their top European player and Oilers No. 3 ranked prospect Maxim Beryozkin. After capturing the Gargarin Cup last spring, with one more year left on his deal, Beryozkin pledged to spend the next season with his KHL club, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl before coming to join the Oilers.
Speaking to Maxim Feder he said "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." Which is a rough translation from Russian. This quote very much makes it seem like he plans to come overseas after this KHL season, something that does not always bode well for players. Many times, this public proclamation will cause coaches to put less care in how they utilize players.
Although there has not been a big drop in Beryozkin's usage so far, it is strange that he is on track to have the worst scoring season of his professional career with two goals, 10 assists for 12 points in 34 games this year. Whatever the issue, hopefully it is rectified soon and does not indicate any long term issues.
Changing teams has paid off for Nikita Yevseyev
After struggling to find a consistent spot in the lineup with Ak Bars Kazan, Nikita Yevseyev sought a change of scenery. Logging consistently under 10 minutes a night in Kazan, his wish was granted and he was sent out on loan to Amur Khabarovsk ahead of this season.
On Amur, he is being utilized as a true top-four defenceman, notching two goals and seven assists for nine points in 30 games. The 21 year old was the Oilers sixth round selection at the 2022 NHL Draft and was rumoured to be signing his entry-level contract this past summer. He clearly did not but he seems like a perfect candidate to move over from Europe following this KHL season.
His play this season has certainly moved him up Oilers prospect rankings and shows he is capable of taking on a bigger role than Kazan gave him. Ahead of the year, Yevseyev was named an honourable mention on the Oilers top 10 prospects list.
Maxim Denezkhin has taken a major step forward
Arguably the most underrated prospect in the Oilers system is 24 year old forward Maxim Denezhkin, a player we named as a breakout candidate ahead of this season. He is currently playing in the KHL with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. He is a player who has taken his time to climb up the ranks since the club selected him with the 193rd overall selection in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL Draft.
Playing nearly 15 minutes a night, he is tied for second in Avtomobilist scoring with 12 goals and nine assists through 29 games this season, putting him on pace for nearly 50 points this season. He will be 25 years old later this month and with his contract expiring this year, it seems like the perfect time for him to hit his stride and make the move to North America.
He may not be as highly touted as some prospects within the system but Denezhkin has some translatable skills with a high motor and sound two-way abilities. If given the poper chance, he could prove to be a strong depth forward for the Oilers in the near future.