This was to be a breakthrough season for Detroit Red Wings prospect Dmitri Buchelnikov.

He was joining KHL powerhouse CSKA Moscow. They were playing him on the club’s top forward line.

Yet nine games into the season, Buchelnikov’s stats line was showing a solitary assist.

That all changed on Sunday, and in a big way.

CSKA Moscow whipped Lada 7-2. Buchelnikov scored a hat-trick for the winners. He also dished out a pair of assists during the rout.

Dimitri Buchelnikov(2nd round’22)
3 Goals 2 assists +2 5/6 SOG 1 Hit 1 Shot block 17:04 TOI in a 7-2 Win

Could tell during the first period that Buchelnikov had it today. The primary assist was still the most impressive play of the game for me. #LGRW #BuchSZN

(3goals 2Assists) pic.twitter.com/U8qykP2ALa

— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) September 28, 2025

Former Red Wings forward Daniel Sprong had four assists for CSKA Moscow. He’s accumulated 12 points in 10 games. Former Grand Rapids Griffins forward Riley Sawchuk opened the scoring for Lada.

Buchelnikov was named the game’s first star. He now has 3-3-6 numbers in 10 games. Sprong was the third star selection. He is second overall in the KHL scoring race.

CSKA Coach Happy For His Red Wings Prospect

Speaking to the KHL website, CSKA Moscow coach Igor Nikitin was happy to see Buchelnikov break out of his slump. He knew that the offensive drought was eating away at the 22-year-old winger.

“Buchelnikov is a person like you or me,” Nikitin said. “Psychology also weighed on him. We supported him, that’s not even up for discussion.

“Sometimes you explain to a young guy, based on your own experience, things that have already happened to other guys, and how to overcome them. Such situations should be used for growth.

These guys.

Buchelnikov 🚨🚨🚨🍎🍎
Kovalenko 🚨🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/qGfDZEiVVF

— KHL (@khl_eng) September 28, 2025

“We don’t just hope; we are confident that Dmitry can turn this situation around. (This) was a clear example of that.”

The Red Wings selected Buchelnikov 52nd overall in the 2022 NHL entry draft. CSKA Moscow is his fourth KHL team. Buchelnikov has also played for SKA St. Petersburg, Admiral, and Vityaz.

He’s in the last year of his KHL pact. The thinking is that he will be coming to North America to play for the first time once he’s fulfilled that contract.

This could happen as soon as late in the 2025-26 season.