Alexander Ivanov has the trust of his coaches in Russia, as he plays within the top 4 on defense of his team against men. Here’s a scouting report on a left-shot defenseman who is gaining crucial experience in the VHL.

2026 NHL Draft Scouting Report: Alexander Ivanov

At the start of hockey seasons, I like to look for prospects playing in professional leagues in Europe, such as Alexander Ivanov this year. Whether it’s the SHL, the Liiga, the KHL, or their respective second divisions, the experience gained in these leagues by a 17- or 18-year-old prospect is quite unique. It’s true that in many cases, coaches don’t give these young players much ice time. Nevertheless, especially for defensemen, you sometimes notice exceptions who reach respectable minutes.

That’s the case with Alexander Ivanov, who plays in the VHL with Bars Kazan. His average ice time per game so far is just over 17 minutes in 7 games. It’s true his stat line doesn’t look great, with no points recorded so far, but he is trusted defensively, as indicated by his role on the top penalty-killing unit.

His main strengths are defensive. Ivanov has good size at 6-foot-2 and 181 pounds. In addition, the left-hander, who plays both sides, skates well enough to cover opposing rushes. He isn’t a player who gets beaten easily (winning 61% of his battles; 6th best on the team), and his stick is very active in breaking up plays.

I find him particularly good at anticipating the passing lanes of players within his reach. It’s true that he pinches, but his success rate is excellent and he has a good sense of timing in knowing when to step up. A bit like a soccer player preventing an offside.

“I don’t know if he’s going to get drafted, if he’ll go early or late. It’s too early to rank a prospect who’s almost strictly defensive, but he’s still interesting to follow because his ability to defend against men really stands out in a positive way…” — Excerpt about Alexander Ivanov from the “Sous le Radar” segment of the TSLH Podcast.

Along the boards and in front of the net, Alexander Ivanov is just as effective, as he doesn’t give up and disrupts opponents’ actions significantly. He can block shots (11 so far; 3rd best on the team), tie up sticks, or play physically (6 registered hits). The only glaring mistakes I’ve seen from him so far are mostly random events—falling due to a stick or a bad bounce taking him out of the play. His turnover differential is excellent: he has regained possession of the puck 53 times (best on the team) compared to 33 turnovers.

Offensive Growing Pains

Where things get tricky right now is offensively or more precisely, when he has to control the puck. In transition, the Russian plays in a Mike Komisarek style when the puck touches his stick. By that I mean the prospect gets rid of it as quickly as possible with a lob into the neutral zone or along the boards, without necessarily scanning for nearby options.

There’s a major lack of information-gathering around him when under pressure, which may explain his low completion rate on passes (81%). He sometimes tries to carry the puck out of the zone, but this often ends in a turnover, a giveaway, or a play that dies because he held onto it too long.

Ivanov is also capable of supporting the attack as the second wave. He does it quite often, but his teammates almost never use him. Perhaps he’s not fully trusted offensively yet. His shot isn’t the most accurate (4 shots on goal out of 13 attempts), nor are his passes, and perhaps teammates believe going for the net themselves has a better chance of success than passing to him. In short, the prospect is still very young and the season has only just begun. He isn’t being used in a way that would allow his offense to flourish. We’ll see later in the season if there’s progression in that area.

Alexander Ivanov’s 2026 NHL Draft Projection

I don’t know if this defenseman will be an option in the 2026 NHL Draft for teams. Personally, I’d take a chance around the 4th round for now. Depending on how his development trends, his stock could shift slightly. Maybe the offense will come along, although even last year in the MHL it wasn’t really his strength.

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