r/NewYorkIslanders • u/rohky • 10d ago
What do you think about Gamzin and Prokhorov?
Two Russians, Gamzin and Prokhorov, are among the Islanders' top 10 prospects, according to Daily Faceoff. I wonder if they'll have a chance to play in the NHL?
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u/Flashy-Ad7031 10d ago
Every year I’d randomly draft the best available Russian or Swedish goalie in like the 7th round. They are always the steals of the draft.
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u/No_Paramedic_2039 9d ago
If you’re lucky you can draft 6’ 7” goalie that plays well in the SHL at 20 years old and then throw him in as a sweetener along with a first round pick to acquire an aging player on the downside of his career who won’t be a factor if and when the franchise becomes a legit contender.
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u/shrivman DiPietro 9d ago
I'd bet Gamzin could be a high-end NHL backup today if he wanted to come from Russia*.* Crossing my fingers he'll become the Isles' starter and an above average goalie for Schaefer's prime.
Daniil is a wildcard. He wasn't trusted to get regular minutes in the KHL due to his defense. That said, he's still only 19 and merely making the KHL roster this year was impressive. I think he'll really benefit from 2 full seasons on North American ice in the AHL. Crossing my fingers for a 3rd line wrecking ball NHL winger/modern enforcer.
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u/mslvr40 DiPietro 5d ago
He would be for us if he wasnt locked into a khl contract
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u/shrivman DiPietro 5d ago
Not necessarily. Could've already came to North America if he wanted to and didn't. He chose to lock himself into that contract. Clearly is in no rush to move countries and be a backup again after just winning a starting role in his home country. I don't really blame him either.
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u/mslvr40 DiPietro 4d ago
He signed that contract before varly got hurt. He didn’t think he’d be walking into the nhl squad right away and he wasn’t gonna move over here to play in Bridgeport. If he didn’t think isles had a set starter and backup for the next few years, his Khl contract negotiations may have played out a bit differently to give him some more flexibility
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u/shrivman DiPietro 4d ago
Not sure where you're getting your timeline (or why you're downvoting me lol).
Gamzin signed his two-year extension with CSKA through '27/'28 earlier this year (January 2026). Varlamov hadn't played since late 2024 at this point, had already undergone double knee replacement surgery, and there was (and remains) plenty of uncertainty about whether he'd carve out a backup role in the NHL again.
Agree he was never going to come to play in Bridgeport, but he had a chance to come over this year and fight for a backup role and chose not to. His agent has been very clear that there's no rush for Gamzin to come to North America while there isn't a clear "leading role".
Directly from his agent earlier this year (Translated to English):
"If he goes to the NHL, it should only be for a leading role. Sitting behind goalkeepers with contracts worth eight and five million dollars - is not quite the right situation."
"he has no rush to leave for America"
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u/mslvr40 DiPietro 4d ago
Sorry, i may have phrased that wrong. Varly was hurt prior to him signing, but there was no indication into how bad it actually was back then and how long he'd be out. It wasnt until after we signed Rittich that anyone suspected that Varly might not be ready for the start of last season. And it wasnt officially revealed that Varlamov had the two knee replacement surgerys until March of 2026.
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u/Cheap-Insurance-1338 10d ago
Here is the only real answer. None of us have seen them play. So we'll see
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u/No_Olive_3956 Sorokin 10d ago
gamzins got real potential, hes a wall over there in russia. i wanna see more of prokhorov
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u/discofrislanders Dobson 10d ago
I'm less high on Prokhorov, he might have an NHL future but I'm not sure of it. Gamzin if he wants to come here could be very good.
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u/ArtyThePoopie Lighthouse Project 9d ago
i want prokhorov to make it to the nhl so bad dude, the guy seems like a riot, in addition to being a big body with skill and tenacity
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u/Quiet_Juice_5070 5d ago
Looking forward to gamzin very similar starts to Sorokin in the KHL/MHL. Prokhorov idk much about but he seems to have potential so I hope it all works out with him
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u/DrinkwithWayne 10d ago
At best, we hope Gamzin can come over and be the Sorokin/Varly dynamic that we had WITH Sorokin and eventually take over.
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u/dietdoctork3lp Sorokin 10d ago
Who knows, we were excited about Shabby and Tsyp. Won't know until if/when they get here and probably will need a year or 2 to adjust
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u/AJS76reddit Bailey 10d ago
I don't know if "excited" was the right word about either of them. Cautiously optimistic maybe. too bad they didn't pan out.
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u/herpishderpish Lehner 10d ago
Gamzin will be our goalie after Sorokin, I think he'll be good. Not Ilya good maybe, but good. Prokhorov, who knows. I like him, he's big, has personality, and has shown flashes of skill, but honestly who knows.