In a week, the Detroit Red Wings will once again take to the boards for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
This time around, things are a little different. For the first time in well over a decade, the Red Wings don't have a first round pick. Barring a trade, they'll have to wait until pick number 47 to draft this time around.
In the second round and beyond, picks come with a higher risk. Teams are less likely to get a surefire NHL regular in later rounds. With that said, plenty of superstars come from the second round (or later). In fact, Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman built up a reputation of late round steals in his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Nikita Kucherov, the best winger in the NHL, was drafted in the second round. Brayden Point, the team's top starter, was a third round pick. If Yzerman can recreate some of that magic in this draft, there's a chance they can get a legitimate star on their hands.
His best bet is KHL center Viktor Fyodorov.
Get to know Viktor Fyodorov
Every once in a while, a player begins a meteoric rise through the development leagues. Viktor Fyodorov, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod's center, is the marquee example of this. Fyodorov started his season in the MHL, Russia's junior league. He quickly rose up the ranks, playing in the VHL and the KHL while managing to hold his own against grown men.
It took a bit for the 18-year-old to finally start scoring, but it's clear that he's a creative player with a knack for scoring. Dobber Prospects' profile paints him in an extremely positive light.
"He plays a mature, structured game, showing reliable defensive habits, middle-lane support, and the ability to handle tougher minutes without getting out of rhythm," reads the piece. "The offensive upside looks better than the counting stats suggest. Tracking data points to strong transition results and positive Fenwick impacts in the KHL, while his VHL play has been more efficient and his MHL work has been dominant."
Eliteprospects' consolidated rankings has Fyodorov as the 76th prospect in the 2026 draft. Whether that goes up or down will entirely depend on how teams see his ceiling. But, if the Red Wings hope to grab a him around that number, they can nab him with their third round pick, which currently sits around 76th overall.
Fyodorov's potential upside
It goes without saying that Fyodorov won't be NHL ready next season. That said, if everything goes according to plan, he can be an NHL regular as early as the 2027-28 season. Obviously, he'll need to show major progress in the KHL, then make his way to North American ice, then show that he's got what it takes at the NHL level.
That said, Fyodorov has among the highest upside of any player in this draft.
It's up to Steve Yzerman to determine if he's a gamble worth betting on.
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