We flip back to defense for number 17 on our list. Daniil Pylenkov is appearing for the list for the final time (he ages out next year) and if he had come up through the CHL, he would likely be in Syracuse already. Will he ever play in Tampa? We could know the answer by this spring.
| Name | Daniil Pylenkov |
| Position | Defense |
| Age (as of October 1) | 24 |
| Height/Weight | 6’1″, 196 lbs. |
| Expected 2024-25 Team | Dynamo Moskva |
| Draft – Year, Round | 2021, Round 7, #196 |
| Previous Rankings | #18 (2023), #23 (2022) |
| Writer’s Ranking | 18 |
| Reader’s Ranking | 17 |
| Final Rank | 17 |
Stats
Our Thoughts
Entering into his second season with Dynamo Moskva and his sixth in the KHL overall, Daniil Pylenkov continues to develop into a solid top-four defenseman in Russia. He averaged over 21 minutes with Dynamo last season and posted a career season with 29 points (7 goals, 22 assists) while bringing home KHL Defenseman of the Month honors in February with 8 points in 10 games.
As mentioned in his two previous Top 25 Under 25 appearances, Pylenkov is a solid defenseman that isn’t flashy, but gets the job done. With an increased role in Moscow (it appears he’s on the second pairing) this year, we’ll see if he can build on his success. He’ll likely get more of a look on the power play and should emerge as one of the team’s leaders.
So, what does that mean for the Lightning? As far as we can tell, Pylenkov’s current contract expires at the end of this season. At that point he could come over and join the Lightning/Crunch and could move through the system fairly quickly. Since the Lightning selected him out of the KHL, they don’t have to worry about his draft rights expiring, so there is no rush to offer him an entry-level contract.
The left side of the Lightning defense is set for this year with Victor Hedman, JJ Moser , and Ryan McDonagh. Hedman and Moser look to be locked in (although Moser will be a RFA in 2026-27). McDonagh will be 37 when his current deal expires after two more seasons and probably won’t be back. Outside of Declan Carlile and maybe Jan Golicic, there isn’t a lot of competition in the organization right now for spots on the left-side of the defense.
The main question will be how Pylenkov’s success in the KHL translates to NHL success. He is playing against the second best collection of offensive talent in the world, which is helpful for his development. Playing 20 minutes a night at that level is just as good, if not better, than logging time in the AHL level. When and if he jumps over to North America, it will likely be a brief stay in Syracuse before he’s competing for a spot in Tampa.
When it comes down to it, the decision might not be in their hands. There is a quick path to the NHL in the organization for a left-side defenseman, Pylenkov could be comfortable in the KHL and it could be more lucrative for him to stay in the short run. If the Lightning do sign him this spring, it’ll be a short entry-level contract. According to the CBA, a 24-year-old player signing his enty-level contract has to sign a one-year deal. He would be a RFA for the next couple years after that, so that would limit how much he could make in North America. If Dynamo likes his play, they could entice him to stay by throwing a big deal at him this season.
Therein lies the fun of seventh-round prospects, especially ones that have alternative career paths in Europe or Russia. Developing a late-round pick into a viable NHL prospect is hard enough as it is. Convincing them to leave a comfortable, and possibly high-paying, situation is an entirely different mountain to climb.
Highlight Videos
Who doesn’t love a good stretch pass? Pylenkov goes zone-to-zone to set up his teammates.
His shot doesn’t get a lot of notice, but it is serviceable. He has a nice compact wind-up and he generates some solid pace on his slapshots.
Pylenkov isn’t going to consistently lead the offense into the zone, but he will occasionally jump up if the opportunity presents itself. He sold the fake shot to get the goaltender out of position before he slid the puck home. It’s not a bad way to start off his season.
