With Axel Sandin Pellikka now in the mix to play in Detroit this season, Dmitri Buchelnikov, 21, is probably the Red Wings’ most intriguing European prospect heading into the 2025-26 season.
It’s been hard to fully analyze Buchelnikov (52nd, 2022) because he has played for weak, non-competitive KHL teams for the past two seasons. But the Red Wings have seen enough to know that the flashy Russian athlete possesses, at the very least, the potential to be an impact offensive performer. The smallish, speedy winger finished 17th in last season’s KHL scoring race with 15 goals and 39 assists for 54 points for Blashikha Vityaz.
Buchelnikov’s KHL profile is changing this season because he is playing for CSKA Moscow, the country’s most storied franchise. One of the reasons CSKA acquired Buchelnikov is team officials believe he can help CSKA return to the prominence. In the KHL preseason, no player registered more points than Buchelnikov (three goals, four assists).
Not every KHL standout ends up as an NHL star. But could Buchelnikov end up having NHL impact like New York Rangers’ Artemi Panarin and Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov? After this season we may be better able to answer that question. Playing in CSKA’s top six, Buchelnikov will be matched up against the KHL’s best forwards every night. This season will provide a more demanding challenge for him before he comes to North America.
CSKA opens its regular season Saturday (9 a.m. ET) with a game against Dynamo Moscow.
Dimitri Buchelnikov(2nd round’22)
🚨🚨x2 Buch is cooking in preseason #LGRW pic.twitter.com/IHiIL5H4kE
— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) August 25, 2025
Red Wings In Case You Missed It
Bob Duff wants to know how well you know your Johanssons? Anton and Albert Johansson are both defensemen and they are not related. But they are still causing some confusion for folks.
DHN also is offer an overview of where Red Wings prospects are playing in Europe this season. You need an atlas to properly keep track of the Red Wings’ prospect pool.
The Red Wings will be going with young goalies Rudy Guimond (169th, 2023) and Michal Pradel (75th, 2025) and Landon Miller (126th, 2024) in their prospect games against the Dallas Stars on Sept. 13-14.
Red Wings Extra
The Detroit Red Wings vs. Dallas two-game prospect series starts one week from Saturday (Sept. 13-14). Here are the team’s two rosters:
The Dallas Stars prospect roster is now available. The games are in Frisco this year on September 13th & 14th.
Victory+ will be broadcasting the games as well!#TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/4ENc7T9XWA
— T a y l o r. (@THN_taylor) September 4, 2025
Here is the Red Wings’ roster:
It all starts next weekend!
📝 » https://t.co/dk16KjpYvD pic.twitter.com/WLGbDnZaat
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 4, 2025
Hockey Now Network
Boston: Andrew Fantucchio writes that a changed Jeremy Swayman hopes to alter Boston’s fortunes in the Atlantic Division in 2026-27. Boston Bruins.
Colorado: Jacob MacDonald has undergone hip surgery. The veteran defenseman will be sidelined five to six months. He scored 35 goals last season for the AHL Colorado Eagles. Colorado Avalanche.
Florida: George Richards explains how the new “playoff salary cap” will impact the Florida Panthers.
Philadelphia: William James writes that he believes the Flyers are a playoff team. Philadelphia Flyers.
Pittsburgh: Dan Kingerski offers a list of the five best Penguins trades in the Sidney Crosby era. Pittsburgh Penguins.