The Pittsburgh Penguins signed forward prospect Mikhail Ilyin to a three-year entry-level contract on Saturday. This contract begins with the 2025-26 season.
According to Puckpedia, the contract carries a salary cap hit of $851,667.
A native of Cherepovets, Russia, the 20-year-old Ilyin was a fifth-round draft pick (No. 142) of the Penguins in 2023.
This past season, the left-handed Ilyin (6-foot-3, 191 pounds) primarily played for Severstal Cherepovets of Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Appearing in 64 games, Ilyin was third on that team in scoring with 30 points (seven goals, 23 assists) while averaging 15 minutes, 3 seconds of ice time per contest.
7⃣ seconds in! Mikhail Ilyin scored the fastest goal of the season! pic.twitter.com/Es23fvkn66
— KHL (@khl_eng) November 1, 2024
In the postseason, Ilyin skated in five games and recorded one assist.
“Mikhail, we view as a really smart, 200-foot center,” former Penguins director of amateur scouting Nick Pryor said following the 2023 NHL Draft. “Makes a lot of plays, a pass-first mindset. But he’s really diligent without the puck. He’s one of those guys that makes those around him better, makes his wingers better. Just a really smart player.”
