Forward Alexander Zharovsky, Montreal (34th overall in in 2025) – Zharovsky has 13 points (4G 9A) through 19 games in his second KHL season, putting him on pace to surpass last year’s production despite receiving limited ice time. The KHL contract for last season’s Rookie of the Year expires at the end of this season, making an appearance with the Habs at the tail end of 2026-27 a real possibility.
Goaltender Yegor Zavragin, Philadelphia (87th overall in 2023) – Serving as one-half of the goalie tandem for first place KHL club Metallurg Magnitogorsk, Zavragin has posted a record of 3-2-0 and .935 save percentage in 6 games thus far. Like Zharovsky, Zavragin’s KHL expires at the conclusion of 2026-27, but not before gaining much more professional experience prior to a prospective move to North America this spring.
Forward Brodie Ziemer, Buffalo (71st overall in 2024) – After two consecutive standout performances for Team USA at the World Junior Championships, Ziemer will compete internationally this season at the 2026 Spengler Cup for the US Collegiate Selects, in Davos, Switzerland. The 5’11” winger, who currently is a junior at The University of Minnesota, is coming off a season where he averaged a point-per-game for the Golden Gophers, including 11 power-play tallies. His net-front presence with the man advantage would fill a weak spot for the Sabres, making him a prime candidate to sign his entry-level contract following the conclusion of the current college season.
D-man Jacob Vandeven, Boston (157th overall in 2026) – After spending the majority of his time as a forward in junior B hockey, Vandeven is now an OHL d-man for the London Knights. Due to the switch in positions just this past December, he remained off the radar of many scouts, falling to the 5th round, where the Bruins happily scooped him up. That move has paid immediate dividends, as the towering blue-liner (6’6″) was not on the ice for an even-strength goal through the Knights’ first seven games, and currently has a +15 player rating. He combines his excellent size with good skating ability and hockey smarts, making a long and successful NHL career the likely end result.
Forward Victor Plante, Detroit (47th overall in 2026) – Plante is off to an excellent start in his collegiate career for The University of Minnesota-Duluth, punctuated by his recent 3-point performance in a 7-1 victory over in-state rival Minnesota. While older brother, teammate and fellow Red Wings prospect Max Plante is sidelined by an upper-body injury, youngest brother Victor and oldest brother Zam (PIT) have picked up the scoring slack, combining for 10 points through 6 games (3G 7A).
