Last year, the Bruins dipped into Russia for Kirill Yemelyanov. This year, they added young goaltender Yuri Ivanov. And with the 104th pick, Boston doubled down again, turning to Yemelyanov’s Loko Yaroslavl teammate in the MHL, Matvei Kotkov.
A clear pattern is emerging — and the Bruins aren’t shying away from Russia any longer.
Kotkov is an undersized winger, but the flashes are exactly what the Bruins said they’d be hunting. He brings legitimate speed, the kind that creates instant separation, and his edgework is a real asset — sharp cuts, quick changes of direction, and clean starts and stops that let him shake pressure and stay elusive.
There’s skill here, and the skating foundation gives it room to grow.
Kotkov has shown flashes of real playmaking touch — the vision is there, and he can thread difficult passes when the game opens up for him. He plays a fast, skilled style and capped it with a standout postseason, earning playoff MVP honors while finishing second in scoring.
He’s not a natural play driver yet, and his game away from the puck still needs structure. But put the puck on his stick, give him space, and he can be dangerous.
There’s a solid foundation to work with, but if he doesn’t find more ways to influence the game without the puck, his path to the NHL becomes a much steeper climb.
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