Russian native and recent Penn State commit Yegor Shilov is projected as a late first round or early second round pick in the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old originally committed to Boston University, but switched to Happy Valley in May,.
He put forth a successful season with the QMJHL’s Victoriaville Tigres. Shilov put up 82 points and 32 goals in the junior hockey league — all within 63 games.
During his time in Quebec, Shilov was noted for his creative play and domination on the power play. Scouts believe he needs a couple of years reshaping in college athletics before moving to the NHL, due to his lack of speed and one-dimensional style of play. However, his impressive shot speed and placement make him a posable threat against goalies.
Shilov’s offensive vision, shifty style of play and creative puck control will allow him to blossom in college play coming out of Juniors.
Bio & metrics
Hometown: Tyumen, Russia
DOB: 4/30/2008
Height: 6-foot-1
Shoots: Left
Position: Center
Juniors statistics
Games Played: 63
Goals: 32
Assists: 50
Points: 82
Playoff statistics
Games Played: 4
Goals: 2
Assists: 3
Points: 5
Awards
QMJHL Offensive Rookie of the Year
QMJHL All Rookie Team
Projections
Projected round drafted: Late first to early second round
Scouting report
Shilov excels offensively but struggles going up against physical players. He lacks confidence when going in for hits and opts to dart from defenders, gearing away from bigger players. He has a strong sense of the ice, but tends to succeed more when the game is slowed down.
Along with his comfortable sense of positioning, he can keep the puck on his stick in highly possessed situations, and can slide in a fast yet accurate shot against skilled goaltenders.
Shilov is a reliable center, winning 54.8% of his faceoffs throughout his time in Victoriaville, while also being ranked the No. 19 North American skater by NHL Central Scouting.
Best team fit: Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers made the 2026 NHL Playoffs for the first time since 2020, yet suffered an early second-round exit against Carolina’s Hurricanes. The Flyers were shut out in a four game sweep and struggled to score goals, only scoring five times in four games.
The Flyers are a tight knit defensive team, often forcing their opponents to find small holes in the zone. They force players to sit on the outside and clog up shooting lanes.
The team’s main issue is generating shots. A player like Shilov would even out this imbalance, as he mainly prospers in finding tiny holes and placing the puck in those openings.
While it may be two to three years before Shilov skates in a professional rink, a player like him could play a key factor in rebuilding Philadelphia’s offense.
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