FN’s 2026 Flames summer prospect rankings – #16: Alan Shaikhlislamov

Our annual countdown of the top Calgary Flames prospects continues. Next up,  the Flames new second round winger out of Russia, Alan Shaikhlislamov, finds himself at number 16.

Alan Shaikhlislamov

Forward; Shoots: Left
Born Sept. 4, 2008 (age 17) in Izhevsk, Russia
6’0”, 190 pounds
Drafted in the second round (55th overall) by Calgary in the 2026 NHL Draft

The highly skilled young forward got his start in the Russian junior leagues and has many quality traits in his game that you expect of top players in those programs. Pair those skills with the size he has, with the willingness to use it, and you’ve got a young player with a ton of valuable tools at his disposal. 

When he got himself into the MHL league in Russia he was ready to showcase his stuff. 

Last year, at 16 years old, he was able to break in and score 20 goals in the aforementioned league, doing so in 46 games. This was where he spent the majority of his campaign. Scouting reports have noted that, even in 2025, Shaikhlislamov was starting to become more of a physical presence than some of his peers – and doing so in a positive fashion. 

Next up comes his draft year, and Shaikhlislamov continues to score at a quality clip. He ends up putting 18 goals on the board in 31 games. It was enough to earn him a call up to play his first ever KHL game this last season. Even though injuries cut into his season, it was more than enough to have Craig Conroy and company go to bat for him with a second round pick. 

Don’t take my word for it alone, here’s some thoughts from Dylan Griffing, of Elite Prospects, on Alan Shaikhlislamov and his play:

Shaikhlislamov is an extremely promising prospect. His motor, shot, and speed set him apart from the pack at the MHL level, making him one of the best scorers in his age group. He was given a look in the KHL before going down with an injury early in the year and should definitely be seeing more opportunities there next season. If healthy all year, I foresee him splitting time between all three tiers of the Salavat Yulaev system. I think he has the ability to score at the professional level with his off-puck scoring profile and he can impact the game away from the puck, but I think the developmental focus needs to be on evolving his ability to drive play forwards himself more reliably.

Expectations for 2026-27

Honestly with Shaikhlislamov it’s simply to keep finding ways to produce. There’s zero rush on getting him over to North America. Let him hone his game in Russia, get as skilled as he possibly can against what is going to be very decent competition for a 19-20 year old player. Then, when the time is right, bring him over here and give him a shot. 

I would also love to hear more about the development and growth of this tenacity in his game. “High-motor” is a phrase I saw a lot around him, and it’s curious what that could look like. Another year of development to see where his physicality and speed end up will be crucial for future evaluation. He has all the tools to be like a Carter Verhaeghe, but only time will tell. 

For now we hope the young man simply does his best, and enjoys a fun year of hockey ahead.