Russian star offers hope for Red Wings future

During the Steve Yzerman era in Detroit, the Red Wings found solid success with their first-round picks. However, some critics have questioned the front office’s reluctance to gamble on high-ceiling prospects with potential risk factors. That changed in 2022, when Detroit used its 52nd overall pick in the second round to select Russian winger Dmitri Buchelnikov.

Many teams were reportedly hesitant to draft Russian players at the time (and perhaps still are), due to ongoing geopolitical concerns. In retrospect, those factors likely made Buchelnikov available at pick 52 and allowed Detroit to cash in on the value of a high-potential offensive dynamo. Since that moment in draft history, all accounts show that his abilities were more than just “potential”, they are tangible and they are special.

Buchelnikov’s KHL season just ended, and he posted an impressive 15 goals and 39 assists on a Vityaz Moscow team that struggled to put together a competitive team. His 54pt season was a 25pt improvement from last season, which earned him the honors of MVP for Vityaz while also leading the club in points. Is being awarded the MVP of a bottom half team in the league impressive? Not on the surface, but when you take into account that 54 pts in a KHL season is only 1 point shy of the all time record for a U22 player. 

Now, all of these accolades are well and good for a Russian player playing in his home country’s pro league, but when will fans living stateside get to enjoy the Buchelnikov experience? In a recent interview with Rustam Imamov he expressed his determination to play in the NHL despite any path that he may have to take. "I’m ready for anything, for any challenge," said Buchelnikov. "Playing in the AHL is not a problem for me – if I have to play for the farm team, then so be it."

With just one year left on his KHL contract, could Chris Ilitch attempt to negotiate an early release from his contract to bring him to Michigan sooner? The odds say that if Buchelnikov is to play in Detroit at some point in his career, it is still a couple of years away, however he is exactly what the current roster is sorely missing: a highly skilled shooter who can make plays for his teammates. One must believe that with a better team surrounding him, his offensive ability will be kicked into superdrive. Playing on a team where he is not the number one forward which other teams hone in on to slow down could launch his success into an area that Detroit has been unable to obtain, outside of Alex Debrincat's 39 goals this season.

Buchelnikov clocked in a time of 13.737 seconds to win Fasted Skater at the KHL All-Star Game

The prospects most often discussed by Red Wings fans include Nate Danielson, Carter Mazur, and Axel Sandin Pellikka, but the lone player in the system with the highest upside is Dmitri Buchelnikov. The sooner Buchelnikov skates his way to Michigan, the brighter Detroit’s future will shine.