By Kalisha Turnipseed -
Danila Yurov and Metallurg Magnitogorsk are in the KHL finals. Playing for the Gagarin Cup isn’t like playing for the Stanley Cup because the NHL is a much higher level of hockey. Who was the last Russian prospect to play for the Gagarin Cup and win?
Kirill Kaprizov for CSKA Moskva in 2018-19.
Kaprizov lived up to the hype. However, Yurov is showing signs that he will be as good or a better goal scorer than Kaprizov. Yurov is showing to be the NHL’s 2022 draft steal.
Yurov would be a perfect fit next to Marco Rossi. Bill Guerin shouldn’t move Rossi in the offseason, but he reportedly is thinking of moving on from the rookie center. However, Rossi can play behind Joel Eriksson Ek, who has evolved into the team’s top center.
Why can’t Rossi use the opportunity to learn from Eriksson Ek? He represents Guerin’s “Grit First” identity but implements it with skill. Rossi’s a year behind in his development because of a life-threatening heart issue. But he played a full season, indicating he’s fully recovered. Now he’s gotten a full year under his belt. What if his sophomore season starts with a future Russian superstar in Yurov?
Kaprizov played 57 regular season games, scoring 11 game-winning goals in 17:15 time on ice (TOI), which led the KHL in 2018-19. Yurov played 62 regular season games, scoring seven game-winning goals in 15:12 TOI, tied for second this year. Imagine if Yurov played up to 17 minutes a night. Kaprizov became the most clutch player in the KHL, and Yurov has proven to be Metallurg’s best player.
Yurov’s clutch goal-scoring has translated to the playoffs this year. He’s been less productive in the playoffs but has out-scored Kaprizov in less ice time played in their Gargain Cup seasons. In 19 playoff games for CSKA, Kaprizov scored 14 points (4 goals and 10 assists) in 17:43 time on ice (TOI). In 19 playoff games for Metallurg, Yurov scored 9 points (6 goals and 3 assists) in 14:42 TOI. Kaprizov’s assists were tied for fifth in the playoffs; Yurov’s goals are tied for third in the KHL playoffs. Yurov’s nine points are tied for sixth in the playoffs, and Kaprizov’s 14 points are tied for sixth.
Yurov, 20, is two years younger than Kaprizov, 22. Still, he’s scoring more goals than Kaprizov did in the KHL and is nearly productive with a lower TOI. Kaprizov is a former 5th-round pick, while the Wild took Yurov in the 1st round. That may explain why Yurov has achieved as much as Kaprizov has at a younger age. Despite the age difference, Yurov is showing 1st-round value at its finest, playing 163 KHL games as he’s gained more experience.
Regardless of what happens in the Gargain Cup finals, Yurov has momentum heading into the offseason. Guerin needs to get Yurov over to North America because Rossi deserves Yurov. What happens if Riley Heidt makes the team? Now Rossi has wingers who can help support him. Yurov’s maturity can help him adapt to the NHL and provide a clutch game instead of immediately becoming a point-per-game player.
Yurov is scratching the surface of being a future point-per-game producer, but we shouldn’t expect him to make that kind of impact unless he becomes Kaprizov 2.0. By playing with Yurov, Rossi should be able to improve his assist totals because he isn’t playing with Mats Zuccarello and Marcus Johansson, who aren’t goal-scorers.
The Wild shouldn’t trade Rossi because they lack goal-scoring wingers. Rossi has 40 points (19 assists) in 81 games. What if the Wild had another goal-scoring wing? I’m sure he’d be knocking on 60 points. Because Yurov is so skilled, Rossi can creatively set him up.
Matt Boldy, Eriksson Ek, and Kaprizov are a dynamic first line, but they don't have a true second line. Rossi is the second line’s foundation. If the Wild are concerned about Rossi’s size (5-foot-9)”, then they can't have Mats Zuccarello (5-foot-8) playing alongside him. Slotting Zuccarello with Marat Khusnutdinov (5-foot-11, 176 lbs.) doesn’t solve that issue, either. If anything, the Wild should keep Liam Ohgren with Zuccarello to make another scoring line. Zuccarello will move Khusnutdinov to the fourth line with Marcus Foligno and Ryan Hartman.
Yurov looks like a game-changing player. Winning the Gargain Cup would be a massive achievement for Yurov to carry momentum in 2024-25. Guerin should have second thoughts about trading Rossi now that scoring wingers like Yurov and Heidt are emerging. Yurov has a bright future in Minnesota, and Kaprizov needs to persuade him to come to the Wild because Kaprizov is a free agent after the 2025-26 season. The Wild can’t afford to miss the playoffs again in Kaprizov’s prime years. Yurov can help Minnesota get over the hump.
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