Penguins Mystery Prospect from Russia On His Way…Soon

CRANBERRY — Generally, not much fuss and hubbub, or hype follows fifth-round picks. Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Mikhail Ilyin is the exception.

The Penguins drafted Ilyin in the fifth round of the 2023 NHL Draft, 142nd overall, and he has already posted solid numbers against men in the second-best league in the world, the KHL. Last season, the 19-turned-20-year-old Ilyin scored 30 points, scoring seven goals in 62 games for the Cherepovets Severstal.

And he did so not on one of the KHL powerhouses filled with Canadian players or top Russians but on a team that finished fifth … in a six-team division.

Saturday, Penguins assistant general manager Jason Spezza clarified that Ilyin will not come to North America for the 2025-26 season but instead stay one more season in the KHL before coming to the Penguins organization.

The prospect made his Penguins debut at Development Camp Saturday, one day after an arduous travel schedule that included delays and waits pushed his Cranberry arrival into the wee hours of the morning.

He does not speak English and needs an interpreter (George Birman from the club’s business office). As coaches barked encouragement or directions for the drills, Ilyin drifted. The development staff used a different method of communication for the solidly built winger–delivering smiles and pats on the butt for jobs well done.

His first practice was relatively low-intensity drills, certainly none that would forge an NHL identity. However, his skill set was quickly apparent, with a few nonchalant passes that most players wouldn’t make, let alone a fifth-round pick on his first day.

Watch closely—look at this slick little pass through the skates by Ilyin pic.twitter.com/OBTEMAzcBe

— Dan Kingerski (@TheDanKingerski) July 5, 2025

Important for the Penguins organization and fans, Ilyin indicated he will make the jump to North America soon.

“This is the best time, the best age, the most productive age,” Ilyin said (translated by PHN).

And how does Ilyin see his game?

“The best part of my game is (hockey) IQ. I can see the plays. The (things) I’ve got to work on, that’s definitely the starting speed,” said Ilyin through Birman.

When he does arrive, the young Russian might quickly be one of the top prospects on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins roster, especially as others make the NHL roster over the next 12 months.

The 6-foot, 180-pound player looks bigger than he’s listed. As a left-handed shot, he has played on the right wing, but such affirmations and decisions will evolve more than be decided after a few days in a development camp.