Ilya Nabokov

Ilya Nabokov
Born (2003-03-27) March 27, 2003
Kasli, Russia
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 179 lb (81 kg; 12 st 11 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team		 Colorado Avalanche
Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)
NHL draft 38th overall, 2024
Colorado Avalanche
Playing career 2022–present

Ilya Nabokov (Russian: Илья Набоков, born March 27, 2003) is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender for Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) on loan from the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 38th overall, in the second round of the 2024 NHL entry draft by the Avalanche.

Playing career

Nabokov first played hockey at the age of five, traveling 130 kilometers (81 mi) to play. He started play as a skater, but switched to play goal in his second year, in part inspired by seeing Vasily Koshechkin play for the Russian national team. At 12, he was invited to play in Metallurg.[1] He made his Junior Hockey League (MHL) debut with Stalnye Lisy during the 2019–20 season.[2]

In 36 regular season games in the 2021–22 season, Nabokov recorded five shutouts and a 2.06 goals against average.[3]

In his Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) debut against Kunlun Red Star on November 29, 2022, his lone KHL appearance in the season, Nabokov played less than five minutes and faced just one shot.[4] In the MHL, he was selected for the MHL Challenge Cup at the 2022 KHL All-Star Game, and was nominated for the award for best goaltender.[5][6]

Nabokov became a KHL regular in 2023–24, taking on a starter role due to the departure of Edward Pasquale and recording a .930 save percentage in 43 games.[7][8] His first KHL start came on September 9, 2023, a 4–3 opening night victory over HC Vityaz in which he made 23 saves on 26 shots.[9] His first shutout came on October 17, a 29-save blanking of Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg.[6] In 22 playoff games, Nabokov recorded a .941 save percentage, and in Metallurg's Gagarin Cup finals sweep of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl he allowed only three goals.[10] At 21 years and 32 days, he became the youngest playoff MVP in KHL history, beating the previous record of 23 years and 128 days set by goaltender Ilya Sorokin.[11][12]

On June 29, 2024, Nabokov was selected with the 38th overall pick, in the second round of the 2024 NHL entry draft by the Colorado Avalanche, their first selection in the draft. It was his fourth draft-eligible season.[13]

In the 2024–25 season with Metallurg, Nabokov as the starting goaltender posted a 23-17-6 record with a 2.22 GAA, a .923 SV%, and three shutouts in 49 regular-season appearances. He also appeared in five playoff games, recording a 2.13 GAA and a .920 Sv%. In the regular season, Nabokov ranked 14th in the league in Sv% and 11th in GAA (min 20 GP), and tied for sixth in wins. At the conclusion of the season, Nabokov was signed by the Colorado Avalanche to a two-year, entry-level contract on 31 May 2025.[14] It was immediately confirmed by Metallurg that Nabokov would remain with the club for the 2025–26 season on loan from the Avalanche.[15]

International play

Nabokov played for Russia U20 at the 2022 Future Cup.[16] He won the 2024 Channel One Cup with Russia, appearing in all three matches and earning best goaltender honors for the event.[17]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L OTL MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2019–20 Stalnye Lisy MHL 2 0 0 0 26 1 0 2.26 .917 — — — — — — — —
2020–21 Stalnye Lisy MHL 33 18 10 2 1,778 61 4 2.06 .925 5 4 3 194 12 1 3.70 .905
2021–22 Stalnye Lisy MHL 36 25 8 1 2,034 70 5 2.06 .932 8 4 3 437 19 0 2.61 .921
2022–23 Metallurg Magnitogorsk KHL 1 0 0 0 4 0 0 0.00 1.000 — — — — — — — —
2022–23 Stalnye Lisy MHL 34 18 9 7 2,018 65 5 1.93 .933 4 1 3 218 11 0 3.02 .903
2023–24 Metallurg Magnitogorsk KHL 43 23 13 3 2,231 80 3 2.15 .930 23 16 6 1,349 41 4 1.82 .942
2024–25 Metallurg Magnitogorsk KHL 49 23 17 6 2,725 101 3 2.22 .923 5 2 3 310 11 0 2.13 .920
KHL totals 93 46 30 9 4,961 181 6 2.19 .926 28 18 9 1,660 52 4 1.88 .938

Awards and honors

Award Year Ref
MHL
All-Star Game 2022 [5]
KHL
Rookie of the Year 2024 [18][19]
Golden Helmet Award 2024
Gagarin Cup champion 2024 [11]
Gagarin Cup MVP 2024

References

  1. ^ Nasezhin, Nikita (July 9, 2022). "Илья Набоков: «Раньше часто писали, что я сын Набокова. Очень хотелось бы встретиться и пообщаться с Евгением»". sports.ru (in Russian). Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  2. ^ "Ilya Nabokov". eliteprospects.com. Elite Prospects. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  3. ^ Skryl, Mikhail (July 6, 2022). "«С фейковых страниц пишут: «Уйди с ворот, дырка». Читаю и смеюсь». Илья Набоков – о критике и знаменитом однофамильце". khl.ru (in Russian). MHL. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  4. ^ Anisimov, Alexey (November 30, 2022). "Скорострельность «Магнитки» и сорвавшийся камбэк «Сочи». Моменты дня". khl.ru (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Tymoshchuk, Stepan (November 3, 2022). "Голкипер «Стальных лис» Илья Набоков выступит на Кубке Вызова МХЛ". 1obl.ru (in Russian). Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Skryl, Mikhail (October 19, 2023). "В КХЛ растет новый топ-вратарь. Однофамилец легенды «Сан-Хосе» в 20 лет тащит «Магнитку»". sport-express.ru (in Russian). Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  7. ^ Griffing, Dylan (March 2, 2024). "Russia Stock Watch: Dmitri Buchelnikov thriving on loan with Admiral Vladivostok". eprinkside.com. Elite Prospects. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  8. ^ Lysenkov, Pavel (April 23, 2024). "Евгений Набоков: «Илья Набоков — это хорошая техника и лучшие ноги! Я редко видел такие в его возрасте!»". matchtv.ru (in Russian). Match TV. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  9. ^ Levin, Dmitry (September 10, 2023). "Вратарь «Металлурга» Набоков: чувствую небольшое опустошение после своей первой победы в КХЛ". metaratings.ru (in Russian). Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  10. ^ "21-летний Илья Набоков — самый молодой MVP Кубка Гагарина в истории". sport24.ru (in Russian). April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Илья Набоков: «О таком дебютном сезоне в КХЛ нельзя было и мечтать»". khl.ru (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  12. ^ "'I never dreamed of a rookie season like this' - playoff MVP Nabokov". Kontinental Hockey League. April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  13. ^ Pronman, Corey. "Avalanche NHL Draft picks tracker: Grades, fits and analysis". The Athletic. The New York Times. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  14. ^ "Avalanche signs Nabokov". Colorado Avalanche. May 31, 2025. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  15. ^ "Nabokov remains on loan with Metallurg" (in Russian). Metallurg Magnitogorsk. June 1, 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  16. ^ Tymoshchuk, Stepan (October 28, 2022). "Южноуральские хоккеисты вызваны в молодежную сборную России". 1obl.ru (in Russian). Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  17. ^ "«Россия 25» взяла Кубок Первого канала, а магнитогорский вратарь стал лучшим на турнире". magnitka-sport.ru (in Russian). December 15, 2024. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  18. ^ "Nabokov, Nikishin scoop hat-trick of awards". Kontinental Hockey League. May 14, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  19. ^ "KHL Ehrungen und der neue IIHF Weltmeistern" (in German). Kontinental Hockey League. June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
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