The second Russian to enter the countdown had the complete mirror image of a season to the other Russian. Maxim Beryozkin had a good season with an incredible finish, and, while the chances of him signing in Edmonton remain remote, this fifth-round pick is quickly becoming a prospect to watch.

Beryozkin had a slow start to the season as he was trending far behind his prior season points per game average of .5 points, scoring only 13 points in 36 games. However, the season turned on a dime for Beryozkin, who registered 17 points in his last 26 games. Then came the KHL playoffs. Beryozkin ended up third in playoff scoring with a line of 5-11—16 in 20 games. His team lost in the KHL playoffs’ finals, but it was a great run by both player and team.

Beryozkin jumps a lot in this year’s prospect countdown because he really appears to found his game as a professional, and his fit for the NHL and the Oilers, in particular, is very good. What I like most about Beryozkin’s game from this past season is how he plays the game. He is a big body and uses it very well to create offence. He would be a dream on the cycle for an NHL team. He has great hands and uses his size to work along the walls and eventually off the walls to create opportunities. Look at these three clips as examples of this type of play.

I also remain convinced that Beryozkin could score goals in the NHL. His shot is average velocity, but his release is sublime. It is quick, and his ability to change the stick angle is top-level. It creates a lot of challenges for goalies trying to read the shot and also defending in-tight chances. Watch this release here.

This last clip is maybe my favourite. It shows everything about Beryozkin that makes him an NHL prospect. Watch him use his size and strength to work the puck up the ice. His skating is above average for his size, but likely just NHL average. Nevertheless, he gets into the zone for the attack. Now watch the puck skills to get to the middle and then the release.

As with all Russian players, the caveat is whether Beryozkin will come to the NHL, particularly Edmonton. With that caveat noted, Beryozkin is an intriguing prospect who certainly could fill a role with the Oilers soon. His KHL contract expires at the end of 2025, and it will be fascinating to see what efforts the Oilers make to bring this player to North America because he could be a valuable part of this organization.