Daniil Prokhorov has struggled to find ice time in the KHL and appears to have been sent down to the MHL

When Daniil Prokhorov was named to Dynamo Moscow's KHL roster for the 2025-26 season, it was looked at as a step in the right direction for the NY Islanders' second-round pick from this summer's draft.

An opportunity to play in the second-best league in the world would prepare him for the NHL game shortly after signing his ELC.

Prokhorov stapled to the bench in the KHL

But through five games with Dynamo, things haven't shaped out the way Prokhorov or the Islanders had hoped, with the young forward playing just 11:07 through the first five games of the season, recording a single shot and a -1 rating.

Playing time for young players is rare in the KHL, but a few special youngsters manage to crack the lineup and see significant time. In the international game, like we see in the World Junior Championship, teams can carry up to 20 skaters. Prokhorov has been listed as Dynamo's extra skater through all five games, failing to see the ice in their most recent game yesterday, a 3-1 victory over Amur Khabarovsk.

Now, according to Elite Prospects, Prokhorov is listed as a member of MHK Dynamo Moskva, the organization's MHL (Russian juniors) affiliate, signifying he has been sent down.

While it's a disappointment that he won't be playing in the KHL, it could be the best thing for the 6'6" forward's development to get more ice time in the MHL. Prokhorov has spent the last two seasons playing with MHK Dynamo Moskva and will have the opportunity to improve on his 2024-25 campaign, totaling 27 points (20 G, 7 A) in 47 games.

If he is to spend the remainder of the year in the MHL, it will be looked at as a missed opportunity for the Islanders, as Prokhorov was selected in the CHL Import Draft by the Sarnia Sting, which would have allowed him to play in the OHL this season, transitioning to the North American game.

Regardless, Prokhorov is still an extremely raw talent, and more ice time is what's best for his development.