When the Nashville Predators drafted forward Yegor Surin at 22nd overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, they believed that they got a "steal."
Nearly a year after the Predators selected him, Surin continues to prove that statement true.
At just 18 years old, Surin has already won the top prize in the Kontinental Hockey League. Surin had seven points in 19 games, helping Yaroslavl Lokomotiv win its first ever Gagarin Cup.
Prior to the Gagarin Cup Finals, the KHL named Surin as the top rookie in Lokomotiv's semifinal series against Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Surin had two goals and an assist in a 4-2 Game 5 victory to win the series.
This was Surin's first full season in the KHL, as he had spent the prior two seasons with Lokomotiv's junior team. The year that the Predators drafted Surin, he recorded 52 points in 42 games and 108 penalty minutes, selling himself as a productive and physical forward.
Surin played 41 regular season games with Lokomotiv, recording seven goals and seven assists for 14 points. He played 12 games with the junior team, recording 17 points, but the bulk of his appearances were with the KHL squad.
The big question that is on everyone's mid is when will Surin come to Nashville or Milwaukee?
Surin will be entering the final year of his KHL contract in the fall, which is set to expire on May 31, 2026. However, Lokomotiv could terminate Surin's contract, allowing him to sign with the Predators immediately.
Considering that Surin received praise from the KHL for his playoff performance and is starting to find his place with Lokomotiv, it is unlikely that they would terminate his contract early.
Predator fans will likely have to wait one more year before Surin can jump into Nashville's system, but one more season in the KHL could be extremely beneficial.
Surin could become a regular on Lokomotiv's roster and continue to build experience playing in one of the world's best professional hockey leagues. By the time he arrived in Nashville or Milwaukee, he'd have just turned 20, still young, but with a ton of experience.
Adding to the mix, the Predators have a top-five pick in the upcoming NHL Draft, which could give them two franchise players to power this franchise's rebuild.