Mikhail Gulyayev is one of the Avalanche’s last remaining highly touted prospects in the system. And it sounds like a 2026 move to North America could be in the works.
RG Media’s Sergey Demidov had an exclusive with the Avs’ 2023 first-round draft pick and was able to shed light on what’s to come for the young 21-year-old Russian defenseman.
Gulyayev has even played forward in some recent games.
RG MEDIA: Avalanche Prospect Mikhail Gulyayev Plays Forward, Eyes 2026 NHL Move
Kudos to RG Media for getting this story sent to me. I have some thoughts on what I believe should be a pivotal 12 months in the career of Gulyayev.
The Avs could use homegrown talent in their lineup. Not just because they need to eventually get better at developing talent later in the first round and beyond, but because having young contributors in your lineup on lower-cost entry-level deals massively boosts your ability to build a winner.
Gulyayev seems to be in good hands with former NHL coach Guy Boucher in the KHL. I think the idea that Boucher moved him to forward to help develop his offensive game is fascinating. But in a Jared Bednar system, it’s his defensive game that’ll ultimately lead to an opportunity. Gulyayev is going to have the odds stacked against him given that he’s on the smaller side. If he continues to develop his defensive game and can play a fearless brand of hockey, he’ll excel in the NHL. Or at least get a chance to do so.
But it’ll always be harder for someone like him to crack the Avalanche’s lineup on a permanent basis, especially if Samuel Girard, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews continue to make up half of the team’s depth core.
Between Gulyayev and goalie Ilya Nabokov, Avs fans have a lot to keep track of in the KHL. Both of them could make their way over as early as next spring, when their KHL seasons come to an end.
Gulyayev was non-committal in the RG Media piece about that plan, but his contract expires at the conclusion of this season.
