Penn State hockey continued its resurgence on the recruiting trail when Victoriaville Tigres center Egor Shilov committed to Penn State on Thursday:
Shilov is one of the top center prospects in the 2026
NHL Entry Draft. Most projections have him going late in the first round. The 18-year old finished seventh among all QMJHL skaters and first among rookies in scoring, with 82 points (32 goals, 50 assists) in 63 games. He will be the fourth Russian player in program history, after Denis Smirnov, Nikita Pavlychev, and Arsenii Sergeev.
His 2025-26 highlight tape can be seen here:
His stats speak for themselves, but there is a lot to like from his tape beyond his point scoring as well. He is strong on the puck in the offensive zone. When pressured by defenders, he has the vision to make quick and accurate passes through traffic. While he does not have top-end breakaway speed, he makes good decisions with the puck in transition, whether passing or shooting. He does not use an overly physical style of play, but he can win puck battles behind the net and on the forecheck.
In the 2025-26 season, Shilov took 1,136 faceoffs (8th in the QMJHL) and won nearly 55% of them. He can be counted on to win faceoffs in important moments of a game and on the power play. His wrist shot is particularly lethal but he can beat goaltenders with the one-timer and on the backhand.
It is unclear exactly when Shilov will begin playing NCAA hockey. He was originally set to join Boston University in the 2027-28 season before he flipped to Penn State. He would take Gavin McKenna’s spot on the roster if he decides to come to Penn State in 2026-27, as McKenna leaving for the NHL is nearly certain.
