Yaroslav Fedoseyev was selected 161st overall by the Maple Leafs but could improve his stock after earning a spot on Traktor Chelyabinsk's (KHL) preseason roster.
Fedoseyev, 18, is projected to be a shutdown defender who uses his instincts, physical nature and mean streak to strike fear into opponents. Spending time in all three major leagues in Russia during the 2025-26 season (VHL, MHL, KHL) he had a combined 20 points (4 goals, 16 assists) over 58 games.
Drafted 161st overall by the Maple Leafs (who traded a 2027 5th round pick for the chance to select him), he's a selection that has a lot of promise and with how Toronto focused on adding so much mobility and puck movement with their other draft picks - he represents the hard-nosed defender that often complements that.
Fedoseyev is already pushing the boundaries of the traditional sixth-round pick development path
But he's also going to be able to raise his stock this upcoming season, as he was added to Traktor Chelyabinsk's preseason roster which gives him a chance to make the team in 2026-27.
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Coincidentally, he also joins former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nikita Soshnikov who ended up receiving a tryout contract with Traktor. Currently, Elite Prospects has Traktor with only five defenceman projected to be part of the team, which allows the 18-year-old to earn that final spot and test his merit or at least compete with the team's veteran defenders for a spot.
He's no stranger to the KHL as he spent 9 games with Traktor in 2025-26, where he had one goal, so it'll be his second go-round where he can hopefully find more time on the ice.
A full KHL season would give the Maple Leafs an early read on his development
A strong preseason that's punctuated by earning a roster spot would help give the Maple Leafs a better idea of what they are going to get out of Fedoseyev. The KHL is the second-largest pro hockey league in the world with intense and high-level competition, so if he's able to prove he can hang with them - that's great for his future prospects in Toronto.
If he can add scoring to Traktor while maintaining his defensive nature, become a more well-rounded two-way defenceman and consistently finding playing time - that's useful intel for Toronto going forward.
Toronto revamped their defensive pipeline this past draft with the likes of Ethan MacKenzie, Ryan Bilecki, and Mans Gudmundsson, and with an aging blueline at the NHL level, any extra progress or experience is going to help those prospects earn a spot in the future.
It's always best to have more information than less, so the more games he gets in the KHL and the more exposure he gets will only strengthen his confidence and hone his skills for when he's ready to make the leap to North America.
While Fedoseyev is not guaranteed to make Traktor's team this season, him earning the chance to fight for a spot at 18 years old shows that the team believes in his ability and are giving him every shot to play himself into the lineup - and giving Toronto evidence their gamble is starting to pay off.
If that's continuing in North America, then the Maple Leafs may have to end up giving him a shot to play in their lineup in the future.
Will Yaroslav Fedoseyev debut in the NHL with the Maple Leafs?
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