Same Concerns Exist For Avalanche First Round Pick

The Colorado Avalanche will report for training camp this week, but over in Russia, the KHL season has been going on for two weeks now.

One of the players we’ve been keeping an eye on is Mikhail Gulyayev, who the Avalanche selected with a first round pick back in the 2023 NHL Draft. We know that it’s unlikely anyone sees him in North America until 2026 (at the earliest), and when he does come over, he has no intention of playing in the AHL.

That’s his decision, and I understand why that’s the case. Russians don’t want to come over and ride the bus when they’re perfectly comfortable playing in their home country. If Gulyayev’s situation had changed at all this season, I’m not sure it would really be a big deal. Unfortunately, his situation hasn’t changed.

Let me explain.

Gulyayev is still a regular on Avangard’s blueline. It’s only been five games, but he’s playing consistently, around 15 minutes a night. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s the role that they continue to use him in. Just like they did last year, they’re limited Gulyayev to minutes only at even strength.

That’s it. No powerplay time, and certainly no penalty kill time.

That’s kind of the trade-off you get when you have a youngster in the KHL. It’s great that he’s playing consistent minutes, but these are prime development years for a young defenseman like Gulyayev. Ideally, you’d want him playing in all situations, with an emphasis on powerplay time, but that’s not happening at all.

Through these first five games, Gulyayev has gotten just two shifts on the powerplay that have totaled 25 seconds. On the penalty kill, he hasn’t received a single shift. It looks like it might take an injury or two for this situation to change, and it’s really a shame.

Gulyayev has all the skill in the world, and he can skate like the wind. A guy like that could be a real weapon on the powerplay. If he was in North America and the Avalanche had him in the AHL, they’d be in control of his ice-time, and you’d have to imagine he’d be getting those prime powerplay minutes. At his age, those minutes would be huge for his development. He’s not getting that right now, and who knows if he’ll ever get it in the KHL, especially on a really good team like Avangard.

I’m a believer in Gulyayev, but Russia has struggled to develop quality NHL defensemen in recent years in the KHL. For Colorado’s sake, hopefully Gulyayev can buck that trend, but it sure feels like he’s being held back right now.