In a developmental head scratcher, Sens prospect Vladimir Nikitin is listed as the third stringer in his team's first two KHL games.

While Linus Ullmark has grabbed the lion's share of attention over the past couple of months, the Ottawa Senators also have some intriguing goaltenders in their prospect pool who hope to be just like him someday. 

That includes Kazakhstan's Vladimir Nikitin, who famously scored a goal in BCHL action last season.

That was one of Nikitin's junior highlights with the Chilliwack Chiefs, but this year, he's moved up the developmental ladder to play in the KHL with HC Barys, the club in his home country that he's been with at various age levels since at least 2019. 

The 2023 seventh-round NHL draft pick took on potential diamond in the rough status for the Senators when he played out of his mind at last season's World Junior Hockey Div. 1A Championships. Nikitin went 4-1 with a 1.48 GAA and a .944 save percentage, helping Kazakhstan get promoted to the top division for the next tournament this December in Ottawa.

Nikitin was also the top goalie at the Div. 1A World U-18s the year before, posting a .936 save percentage and helping Kazakhstan win gold there as well.

But things appear to be off to a shaky start in the pro ranks. The KHL season is now underway and Nikitin is listed as the third string goalie for HC Barys. He's not on their injured list and he's clearly been marked as their reserve for the club's first two games.

A lot can change in the early days of a hockey season. But if Nikitin is still on the Senators' radar as a prospect, and there's no obvious reason to believe he isn't, the NHL organization can't be too happy with this new development in his development.

NHL teams and their prospects might debate sometimes what lower level or team the player belongs at or where they'll best develop. But no one thinks it's a good idea for a prospect to be sitting on the bench. or worse, pounding popcorn in the press box.