The Toronto Maple Leafs have picked Yaroslav Fedoseyev with the 161st overall pick of the 2026 NHL Draft. Fedoseyev is a 6’1 defenceman from Russia who bounced between the VHL, MHL and KHL last season.
Yaroslav Fedoseyev player profile
Fedoseyev is an aggressive defender with a bit of a mean streak. He put up impressive point totals in the MHL (13 points in 24 games) before moving up the ranks in Russia last season. He also got into KHL playoff games, an impressive feat for an 18-year-old.
He’s a solid defender off the rush and in his own zone, using his physicality more than his stick. His attitude seems right up the Leafs alley and will hopefully get him into more KHL action next season.
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk | MHL | 26 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 2024–25 | Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk | MHL | 33 | 6 | 11 | 17 |
| 2025–26 | Chelmet Chelyabinsk | VHL | 25 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| 2025–26 | Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk | MHL | 24 | 2 | 11 | 13 |
Analyzing the pick
You can never have enough defencemen, so trading up to grab a higher-ceiling guy late in the draft is smart for the Leafs. Like many of their picks today, Fedoseyev’s underlying numbers look good, and his point totals aren’t nothing – there’s a real chance Toronto has a depth NHLer here.
What’s next for Fedoseyev
Fedoseyev will continue his progression up the Russian hockey ranks for at least another year, hopefully earning a more permanent role in the KHL soon. If all goes well, he’ll come to North America in a couple of years with important professional experience before heading to the Marlies.
