Ilya Nabokov, Magnitogorsk
One who could go as highly as the third round, Ilya Nabokov is someone you know what you’re getting from a size standpoint, and that could be a knock on the 21-year-old, who is just 6’0, 179 lbs. But wow, talk about shades of Devon Levi, but at the MHL and KHL level, where he finished the season with a 0.930 save percentage, three shutouts, 23 wins, a 2.15 GAA, and 43 regular season appearances with the Metallurg Magnitogorsk.
No, you won’t see him in North America next season, as he’s slated to return to Magnitogorsk in 2024-25. But he would be more than worth taking if Kevyn Adams doesn’t sign Luukkonen to a long-term deal this summer, as Nabokov did not just enjoy an impressive regular season but also an incredible postseason.
In 23 playoff games, Nabokov logged four shutouts, 16 wins, a 0.942 save percentage, and a 1.82 GAA. To be fair, Metallurg Magnitogorsk finished as Gagarin Cup Champions, and they also enjoyed an outstanding regular season that saw them win the Eastern Conference.
Nabokov’s overall experience and the fact he played for the KHL’s best team - second-best in the regular season - have inflated those numbers. But either way you look at it, he was still a major contributor for the organization.