Red Wings recent 2025 5th-round pick Nikita Tyurin Talks Development, KHL Debut, and Championship Mindset.
As one of the newest additions to the Red Wings' pipeline is 2025 fifth-round pick 18-year-old defenseman Nikita Tyurin, who is already making a name for himself in Russia and his rapid development hasn’t gone unnoticed in Detroit.
Tyurin recently reflected on a standout season in Russia that saw him shine at both the junior and professional levels. The 18-year-old defenseman capped his rookie campaign in Russia's Junior Hockey League (JHL) with a Kharlamov Cup championship, a KHL debut, and a gold medal at the Challenge Cup, all while establishing himself as one of JHC Spartak’s top young players.
Red Wings Select Nikita Tyurin With 5th-Round Pick
The Detroit Red Wings selected defenceman Nikita Tyurin with their fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
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Welcome to Detroit, Nikita!
Tyurin recorded 20 points (4 goals, 16 assists) in 50 games for Spartak, finishing as the team’s second-highest scoring defenseman. The Moscow native averaged 18 minutes of ice time per game, displaying poise beyond his years and earning a call-up to the senior Spartak roster in the KHL.
In a recent interview with the official JHL website, Tyurin shared insight into his offseason development, his experience transitioning to pro hockey, and the mentality that has driven his progress. He started off by saying how quickly he was back in the gym working on conditioning as he returned just a week after last season ended.
“I have participated in a development camp and the first team’s training camp. I continue to prepare for the season, and devote my free time to getting rested. It would be nice to make the KHL team’s roster and I have been doing my best for that to happen,” Tyurin said, discussing his preparation for 2025–26.
Focused on taking the next step in his career, Tyurin has put in serious work on his physical strength. After watching the Florida Panthers showcase why hockey is dominated by physicality and strength once again rather than finesse, it's a good omen that Tyurin is focusing on adding weight like most young players should.
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“I want to be a tougher player, I have gained five kilos of muscle compared to the weight I had in the 2024/25 season. My current weight is 85 kilos and I want to increase it up to 90," Tyurin explained.
While Tyurin continues to grow physically, his maturity on the ice was already evident in his KHL debut last season. He explained in the interview how nervous he was in his first game but over time he started to understand and get into the flow of things.
“First, I had been brought into the lineup for the game against CSKA, but I hadn’t played that night. Then I was dressed for the game against SKA and made my debut in the second period. I had some fear, but after the first shift things became much better," Tyurin said “I tried to play simple: receive the puck and quickly pass it up to the forwards. There was some hesitation at one point, but everything was good in general."
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He continued by explaining that the size of the other players was evident and solidified the idea of needing to add more muscle mass. Tyurin explained that he was having a hard time winning puck battles as he would need to predominantly use his stick and not his undersized body for checking.
Tyurin closed off the interview by explaining that he wants to be an "interesting player" and that he wants to take creative risks on the ice. Some of the successful attempts were admired by his coaching staff but failures were heavily scrutinized. Tyurin made it clear that he wants to develop into a two-way blueliner that can move the puck and make plays.
When asked about his goals for the season, Tyurin echoed a mindset shared throughout the Red Wings organization: win when it matters, win in the playoffs and ultimately win championships. He also aims to secure a full-time spot on a KHL roster, a significant step in his development. Playing in one of the world’s most competitive leagues will allow him to test himself against elite talent just a step below the NHL. If his rapid progression continues, Tyurin could emerge as a late-round steal for the Red Wings in the coming years.
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