Prospect Info: 2023 142nd Overall - Mikhail Ye. Ilyin

[deejb]

I think the middle name abbreviation thing is because there’s a Russian male ballerina with the same name.

Mikhail Ye. Ilyin
Mikhail A. Ilyin
Both born in 2005

 

[HandshakeLine]

Ilyin is a much more common surname than I remembered apparently.

 

[The Old Master]

my favorite Russian scout poster (caser) wasn't impressed.

"I'm not a huge fan, but he is a versatile and reliable playmaker, not sure I see anything else there, but the Penguins scout is Alex Khavanov and he knows his stuff much better than me."

 

[deakka]

my favorite Russian scout poster (caser) wasn't impressed.

"I'm not a huge fan, but he is a versatile and reliable playmaker, not sure I see anything else there, but the Penguins scout is Alex Khavanov and he knows his stuff much better than me."

"versatile and reliable playmaker" doesn't sound that bad for a 5th round pick tbh!

 

[Caser]

my favorite Russian scout poster (caser) wasn't impressed.

"I'm not a huge fan, but he is a versatile and reliable playmaker, not sure I see anything else there, but the Penguins scout is Alex Khavanov and he knows his stuff much better than me."

To be totally honest, already at this point I feel I was totally wrong and had clearly underestimated his smarts.

 

[Turin]

To be totally honest, already at this point I feel I was totally wrong and had clearly underestimated his smarts.

What you love to see

 

[Pancakes]

This guy has put up 22 points in 42gp in the KHL as an 18 year old. That's very good.

https://x.com/CMhockey66/status/1742323140242366879?s=20

Pens may have a gem on their hands. It'd be awesome if this guy turns into a middle six forward in a few years.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

This guy has put up 22 points in 42gp in the KHL as an 18 year old. That's very good.

https://x.com/CMhockey66/status/1742323140242366879?s=20

Pens may have a gem on their hands. It'd be awesome if this guy turns into a middle six forward in a few years.

I wonder if there's any chance to get him over here before Malkin retires.

Pens haven't had a real Russian prospect in quite some time. Now they have Ilyin and Murashov, plus Tankov lurking as a possible diamond in the rough.

It'd be nice to have them for a full season, but even if it's just for a training camp or two, I think that might be a nice bonus.

 

[SEALBound]

I wonder if there's any chance to get him over here before Malkin retires.

Pens haven't had a real Russian prospect in quite some time. Now they have Ilyin and Murashov, plus Tankov lurking as a possible diamond in the rough.

It'd be nice to have them for a full season, but even if it's just for a training camp or two, I think that might be a nice bonus.

And what's exciting is that Ilyin and Murashov are playing very well. Ilyin is a full-time player while Murashov is just a back up but still, I think we have a year or two for them to continue to develop. Bringing over a Mikheyev-level forward and a Shesterkin-level goalie at the same time Yager and Pickering should be on the roster has exciting potential.

EDIT: I didn't realize that Yager was the 2nd leading WJC Canada scorer behind Celebrini. 5pts (2-3) in 5gp. Not bad!

 

[wej20]

What's your process for even getting players over from Russia at the moment?

 

[Jacob]

Penguins fans need to pump their own prospects tires a little more. The pool is shallow but Yager looks good and Ilyin is intriguing.

 

[OtherThingsILike]

And what's exciting is that Ilyin and Murashov are playing very well. Ilyin is a full-time player while Murashov is just a back up but still, I think we have a year or two for them to continue to develop. Bringing over a Mikheyev-level forward and a Shesterkin-level goalie at the same time Yager and Pickering should be on the roster has exciting potential.

EDIT: I didn't realize that Yager was the 2nd leading WJC Canada scorer behind Celebrini. 5pts (2-3) in 5gp. Not bad!

I've heard a comparison for Ilyin is Buchnevich. I don't know how well-founded that comparison is, but it's an intriguing one.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

Penguins fans need to pump their own prospects tires a little more. The pool is shallow but Yager looks good and Ilyin is intriguing.

Imagine adding Celebrini to that

 

[The Old Master]

Imagine adding Celebrini to that

that would be a quick turn around.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

that would be a quick turn around.

Big time!!! lol

Hey him and Yager did show they had some great chemistry together!!! One can dream

 

[tom_servo]

Celebrini sounds like a boxed wine.

 

[steelcityassault]

What's your process for even getting players over from Russia at the moment?

Have Craig Patrick call, while crying, and offer a lump sum of money

 

[Caser]

 

[The Old Master]

love to see your rankings of Russian prospects, to see how the pens prospects compare to the others. and I'm already looking forward to seeing your rankings of this year's draftees.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Nice positioning and anticipation.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Remains to be seen if the skating will translate but a lot of these highlights remind me of Guentzel where literally no physical tool sticks out except him being in the right spot.

 

[Jacob]

Remains to be seen if the skating will translate but a lot of these highlights remind me of Guentzel where literally no physical tool sticks out except him being in the right spot.

Might be why he fell. Last year he was on Cherepovets' bottom lines and scouts were like "okay he's playing in the KHL and all but he's not big, he's not fast and he isn't scoring so what's to like here?" Guessing even our scouts felt the same way to some extent or else they would've picked him higher than they did.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I love players with great hockey sense. Always have. And hey, hard to argue with a kid who wears #99, right?
Wayne Gretzky
Wilf Paiement
Mikhail Ye. Ilyin

 

[Pancakes]

Might be why he fell. Last year he was on Cherepovets' bottom lines and scouts were like "okay he's playing in the KHL and all but he's not big, he's not fast and he isn't scoring so what's to like here?" Guessing even our scouts felt the same way to some extent or else they would've picked him higher than they did.

Imo if you can score at a .5ppg clip in the KHL at 18 years old there's a damned good chance you're gonna make it as an NHLer.

I value production way more than tools. All Jake did was produce everywhere he went and bam here he is as an elite NHLer years later.

If Ilya produces like this in the KHL and it's not a one year mirage he's going to be an NHLer of some kind at some point. There's just no way you produce like that and don't become something.

 

[Caser]

love to see your rankings of Russian prospects, to see how the pens prospects compare to the others. and I'm already looking forward to seeing your rankings of this year's draftees.

Just thought that Ilyin is a great example that pretty much every year I get really wrong on someone lol.