The Pittsburgh Penguins did not get much of a look at exciting prospect Mikhail Ilyin last July at the team's rookie camp. In addition to flying thousands of miles from Russia to Pittsburgh, the forward suffered through flight delays that cost him most of the camp.
They will get a much better look now. Wednesday morning, the Penguins re-assigned Ilyin to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins .
Ilyin, 21, was the Penguins' fifth-round pick in 2023 and has put up big numbers in the KHL, scoring 14 goals and 44 points in 68 games for Cherepovets Severstal . The 6-foot, 181-pound winger also had a strong playoff series, scoring three goals (3-1-4) in five games.
"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 an interpreter last July.
From the Pittsburgh Hockey Now prospect rankings last July:
"Ilyin has a projectable frame (6-foot, 180 pounds) and plays the right wing in Russia despite a left-handed shot. He's slick and has a high ceiling, but there will be plenty of work, including getting a bit quicker and learning that the North American game is played between the dots and not the perimeter."
Penguins management expressed a great deal of optimism in Ilyin's future. There are five games remaining in WBS's regular season schedule, beginning Thursday in Bridgeport. The WBS Penguins have already qualified for the playoffs.
The Penguins are also bringing a pair of 2025 fifth-round picks to the team on Amateur Tryout Agreements.
Forward Ryan Miller from the Portland Winterhawks and defenseman Quinn Beauchesne to amateur tryout agreements.
Miller, 18, posted career-bests with 30 goals, 45 assists and 75 points. Miller also tied for the WHL league with four shorthanded goals.
Beauchesne, 19, notched new career-highs with seven goals, 28 assists and 35 points in 56 games for the Guelph Storm of the OHL. He also won gold medals with Team Canada at both the 2024 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup and 2025 U18 World Championship.
The post Penguins Bring Exciting Prospect from Russia to WBS; Sign 2 More appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now .
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