Yaroslav Fedoseyev, that right-shot defenseman the Maple Leafs snagged 161st overall in the sixth round, has already made a serious splash this season, cracking his KHL squad, Traktor, right out of camp! He’s played in all six of their games so far, which is a pretty sweet start for a guy who was just bouncing between the MHL and VHL last season. Remember, this kid was born in November 2007, making this jump to the top Russian pro league a real statement.
Holding His Own In The KHL Gauntlet
Look, Fedoseyev isn’t logging huge minutes, not yet anyway. He’s mostly been slotted in as the sixth or seventh defenseman, rotating with another guy on the bottom pair. Traktor definitely leans hard on their top guys, with the first pair eating up over 20 minutes a night and three other defensemen hovering between 17:30 and 19:10. The rest, including Fedoseyev, are in that 10-12 minute range. He’s currently averaging 10:58, the lowest among Traktor’s defensemen. But here’s the kicker: he’s one of only four defensemen who has dressed for *every single game* this season. Talk about sticking it out and earning your spot, even when you’re getting the short end of the stick! It’s not like he hasn’t had his rough patches, either. His ice time dipped to 8:27 in the second game and then a season-low 7:53 in the third. But what did he do? He battled back! The last two games saw him getting his most ice time of the young season, both clocking in over 13 minutes. You can see the trust building, which is a big deal for a young guy learning the ropes in a pro league like the KHL. That’s a trend we absolutely love to see for a prospect still finding his footing.
Chasing That First Point, Blaming The Team?
And Fedoseyev isn’t just a depth guy soaking up minutes; he’s been running point on the powerplay two unit for pretty much every single game! He’s averaging 1:28 per game on the man advantage, and just like his even-strength minutes, his powerplay time is trending up, hitting an impressive 2:15 in his most recent outing. Seriously, that’s real responsibility for a young d-man. Yeah, he hasn’t put up any points in his six games yet, but don’t you dare call him a null factor on offense! He’s been averaging two shots on net over the last three games, firing away when he gets the chance, and get this: he’s only taken one minor penalty all season. That’s disciplined play! Honestly, it’s tough to rack up points when your team isn’t exactly lighting the lamp. Traktor is a pretty low-offense squad, tied for the third-worst record to start the season with only 10 goals through six games. They’re middle of the road in the KHL for shots on goal but sitting with the third-worst shooting percentage. So, it’s less about Fedoseyev not generating chances and more about the pure lack of opportunity and his teammates just not burying the puck when they get the chance. Cut the kid some slack!
Overall, the early returns are a slightly pleasant surprise. To see him earn a regular KHL spot this early in his career, and frankly, not look out of place against grown men, that’s what you want to see from a sixth-round pick. He’s shown flashes, handled the pressure, and looks like he’s just getting started. Keep an eye on this kid, Maple Leafs faithful. As his ice time creeps up and Traktor hopefully figures out how to score, that first KHL point is gonna feel extra sweet, and it’ll be a big step in his development journey.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pension Plan Puppets.
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