Avalanche 2023 first-round pick Mikhail Gulyayev has spent his entire career in his native Russia to date. He’s looking to change that by making his NHL debut at the tail end of the 2025-26 campaign, he told Sergey Demidov of RG .

Now 20, Gulyayev was always one of the most high-ceiling offensive options among blueliners in the 2023 class. The lefty has to work to overcome his sub-ideal frame – 5’10” and 172 lbs – but his projection hasn’t really changed.

He’s struggled to gain premier ice time in the KHL but enters 2025-26 with two full-time seasons at the pro level under his belt. He’s developed almost entirely in Avangard Omsk’s system and has played exclusively for the top club in the regular season since his post-draft year. He now has an 11-17–28 scoring line in 144 career

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