Nazar Privalov (Source: Telegram @prival95)
Talk about a new “Next One” in hockey pops up all the time. Often it’s too early. But with 16-year-old Nazar Privalov, the hype may be fair. He already has the tools to become Russia’s top prospect in two or three years. At 16, Privalov is dominating the MHL with Krasnaya Armia. Against older opponents, he has 17 goals in 17 games and 24 points. 
His size and early production invite comparisons to a young Eric Lindros. At 16, Lindros stood 6-foot-4, weighed 220 pounds, and scored 17 goals in 25 games for Oshawa in the OHL. Privalov, at the same age, is 6-foot-4 and about 205 pounds. His shot is often compared to Alex Ovechkin’s – the Capitals star who famously trained it endlessly as a kid. Coaches say Privalov knows this and tries to follow the same path.
A Prospect With Power and Purpose
Privalov will be eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft. It’s too early to talk about No. 1 overall, but many experts already see him as a top-five candidate. The NHL’s age rule makes him first-time eligible the year he turns 18 by September 15. 
“Beyond the physical tools that helped him move from kids’ hockey to junior hockey so smoothly, he has a great skill set,” Team Russia sporting director Daniil Kupriyanov told RG. “He can beat a defender one-on-one, he has a good shot. He plays two positions – in school he was a center, and now for Krasnaya Armia he plays wing. He’s a power forward with a good shot, smart, and with character.”
Kupriyanov believes Privalov could already handle KHL minutes against men, but league rules allow that only from age 17. So he could debut for CSKA next season. 
“Of course I dream about playing in the KHL,” Privalov told RG. “I’ve thought about it since childhood. And I’ve supported CSKA since I was a kid. Playing for my home club is a dream.”
Balancing School, Hockey, and the Future
As with many Russian prospects, the “Russian factor” could affect his draft stock – especially given his club. When he turns 18, he will face military service obligations, which can complicate timelines. That means a choice: stay in Russia for a few more years (the most likely path), or leave for the CHL after this season. The second option looks almost unrealistic, again considering his club.
“I’m not thinking about the NHL Draft right now,” Privalov said. “I have a lot to learn. If I stop getting better, nobody will remember me. I watch every NHL Draft, of course. But right now I’m focused on school and hockey. I try to put my phone away and do my homework.”
Privalov is in his final year of school and will take exams at the end of the year, so he doesn’t have much time to watch NHL games.
“There’s too much school and hockey. I do watch highlights sometimes. Three years ago I started cheering for Toronto, and back then I followed them closely. I even had their logo as my avatar. Now there’s no time. Recently I only know that Mitch Marner went to Vegas. In the Stanley Cup Final, I was cheering for Florida. I really like Sergei Bobrovsky. I don’t understand goalie details, but even through the screen, I feel how calm the team is with him. That motivates me to be a leader.”
Big Frame, Bigger Ambition
Already at 16, Privalov – who runs his social media actively with his mom’s help and understands the value of media – answers questions about personal achievements like a veteran.
“All my stats depend on my linemates. I’m happy I can help the team. I’m not thinking about the league’s goal-scoring title. For me, the main thing is to make the playoffs and then win the Cup. All great athletes who won personal awards say the main thing is the championship, and I think the same.”
One more detail: Privalov came from the HK Dmitrov school – the same school that produced Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov. Because of the age gap, they didn’t overlap and didn’t talk. “I don’t remember him at all, to be honest.”
“As for size, I was always bigger than my peers. Every summer, three years in a row, I grew 10–15 centimeters. That made the jump to junior hockey easier for me.”
Privalov doesn’t want to compare himself with anyone (“Let others do that”). But besides the Lindros talk, there’s another fitting comp.
“You can compare him to Valeri Nichushkin,” Kupriyanov said. “He also had big size from a young age. People said that when others caught up, he would lose his advantage. But as you see, Nichushkin looks great in the NHL. The analogy is fair. At the same time, I’d call Privalov even more technical, more gifted, more crafty. His hockey IQ is very high.”
What are Privalov’s chances to go first overall?
“I dare say that if he stays healthy and there are no external factors, at the moment he is in the top five prospects of that draft. But there is a lot of time ahead. Much will depend on how he performs next year.”
For now, it’s simple. Privalov is 16 and scoring a lot in the MHL. He can play in the KHL at 17, and he’s set for the 2027 NHL Draft. Teams will weigh his talent against the timing, which can be tricky for CSKA players. Even so, CSKA goalie Pyotr Andreyanov went 20th in 2025, so teams still draft CSKA players early. If Privalov turns this scoring into solid KHL minutes next season, the “Next One” talk will grow.