Ivan Patrikhayev (D, L, 6’0″, 183, MHK Dynamo Moskva, 02/03/2006) Ivan Patrikhayev is a 6’0′, 183-pound left-shot defenseman who has spent most of the 2025/26 season playing 59 games in the KHL, which is clearly one of the most difficult professional leagues outside the NHL for a young defenseman to earn regular minutes in. He is undersized, needs to add strength, mass and power as he continues to mature physically. His season totals of 3 goals and 10 assists for 13 points place him fifth among defensemen on CSKA, while his +12 rating tied for the team lead, clearly showing that he can contribute in a structured professional environment against older competition. He is a steady, defense-first thinker who moves pucks quickly while playing high percentage hockey. An 88% pass completion percentage is something that matters to me as he is playing versus men who can bait young defenders into poor decisions. His takeaway numbers (5.5 per game) show strong anticipation, an active stick defensively, and strong deceptively hands. Patrikhayev is direct from the offensive blue line without much wiggle or deception. He contributes offense through strong transitions, but his limited power-play usage and extremely low offensive production let you know he is not a power play option in the NHL without adding deception and confidence. He could become an NHL player because he demonstrates quality traits that translate to the North American pro game: positional awareness, efficient puck movement, wins puck battles, and the ability to handle professional pace while maintaining defensive composure. Defensemen who can play a structured, reliable game against men at a young age often earn roles as a depth NHL defenders if their physical development and maturity can catch-up to their brains. The reason for caution is that he does not currently project as a high-impact player in any one area, especially the offensive side of the game. His offensive ceiling is limited, his shot generation and secondary scoring chance creation are modest at best, and his physical engagement is not imposing for a defenseman who will eventually need to handle NHL-sized forwards. Additionally, while his puck play is high percentage, his involvement in transition offense as the secondary option and power-play situations remains limited, which caps his upside. Ultimately, Patrikhayev projects as a steady, low-risk defenseman whose NHL path would likely come through defensive reliability, puck movement, and special teams utility rather than offensive impact. If he continues to add strength, maintains his composure and defensive effectiveness against high-level competition, he could develop into a depth NHL defenseman capable of playing structured minutes, but without greater offensive impact or a more physically assertive presence, his projection may settle closer to a reliable professional defender who has a long career in the KHL.