The Colorado Avalanche have officially made their first pick of the 2026 NHL Draft, taking Russian center Egor Shilov out of the QMJHL with the 43rd pick overall in the second round.
This pick is a bit of a flyer for Colorado. The 18-year-old winger is pure offense if nothing else. He’s the sort of guy who can break games open and become a solid power play option.
He’s got solid size at 6’1” and 176 pounds. While he won’t overpower opponents with his skating and drive, he’ll make things happen with his skills.
This past season, he lit up the QMJHL, scoring 32 goals and 82 points in 63 games with the Victoriaville Tigers. And that’s why this pick is a bit of a flyer. The QMJHL is notorious for being all offense and almost no defense.
The key here will be to see if Shilov can translate his skills into a more rounded game in the NCAA. The 18-year-old will be heading to Penn State. If he can take his game to another level, he could become the sort of middle-six winger the Avalanche will need in about two to three years.
Otherwise, questions may emerge about his seeming lackadaisical defensive game. While his scoring skills might be enough to keep him in the NHL, he’ll have to score a ton to make it worth Colorado’s pick.
This was a good pick for the Avalanche. The team got a solid offensive player with a high upside. It will just become a matter of Shilov taking his game to the next level.
But if there’s one organization that can take a seeming rough player into a bona fide NHL star, it’s the Avalanche. The organization’s player development is top-notch. So, there’s plenty to like about this pick, even if there is a clear downside risk to it.
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