Few teams in the National Hockey League can boast the kind of rich history of enjoying success with top-notch Russian-born talent like the Detroit Red Wings. Not only did they feature the famed "Russian Five", many of which landed in the Hockey Hall of Fame, but they also enjoyed the talents of future Hall of Famer Pavel Datsyuk for 14 seasons. The Red Wings are hoping that forward Dmitri Buchelnikov, whom they selected with the 52nd overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, could be one of the next great Russian born players in Detroit. Buchelnikov, who is set to enter the upcoming 2025-26 season with the KHL's CSKA Moskva, recently disclosed to Nadezhda Tonkonog of the Russian-based Sport24 that he remains in regular contact with the Red Wings and Nikolai Vakurov, their Russian scout. "We spoke probably two months ago,” Buchelnikov said via Sport24 [https://sport24.ru/hockey/news-765920-buchelnikov-tsska-samaya-izvestnaya-organizatsiya-v-nashem-khokkeye-priyatno-znat-chto-menya-v-ney-vidyat]. “We talked about the season, what I will do in the summer. We always communicate with Nikolai Vakurov, their Russian scout, and are in touch. And not only about hockey, about life." Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/] team site to stay connected to the latest news [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news], game-day [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/game-day]coverage, and player features [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/players]. Buchelnikov also confessed that he was literally shaking with excitement during his most recent conversation with Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman, who had a front-row seat to the numerous tremendous on-ice accomplishments of so many great Russian players in Detroit history. “When I stood talking to such a legend, my knees almost shook," he said. "I think all of us watched 'The Russian Five' (documentary). But this is through the TV, and seeing it live is worth a lot." Buchelnikov is under contract for another season with CSKA Moskva, but he looked ahead to when he could potentially travel overseas to North America and begin his professional career on American soil in Detroit's farm system. "It all depends on my game, how I will perform,” Buchelnikov said. “If I understand that I am approaching this level, that I can compete and, most importantly, win this competition, then, of course, I will think about it. But now I’m in Russia, I still have a year of contract, and I just have to think about getting into the top 6 here and showing everything with my play." Buchelnikov, who played last season with HC Vityaz Podolsk before being traded to CSKA Moskva, scored 15 goals with 39 assists in 65 games during the 2024-25 season. Young Russian players like Matvei Michkov (Philadelphia Flyers) and Ivan Demidov (Montreal Canadiens) have already transitioned from the KHL to the NHL and made an impact for their respective clubs, and it may not be long before Buchelnikov is able to do the same with Detroit. Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwnuDfCA?ceid=CA:en&oc=3] favorites.
