As the Nittany Lions hockey program continues to grow, they've secured a commitment from a projected first round pick in the upcoming NHL Draft.
Year-by-year, Penn State’s hockey program is continuing to stack wins.
Last season, it was able to pry top prospect Gavin McKenna from college hockey juggernaut Michigan State, and this offseason, it secured a commitment from Egor Shilov, who was previously committed to Boston University.
In this era of NIL, Penn State is starting to stand out as a powerhouse, as the program is mostly backed by alum Terry Pegula, who also owns the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres and NFL’s Buffalo Bills.
Shilov, who’s expected to be a first round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, spent this past season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Victoriaville Tigres.
With the Tigres, Shilov averaged well over a point per game, registering 32 goals and 50 assists in 63 games played.
This move from the Nittany Lions indicates that they’d like Shilov to come into Happy Valley next season, while he was planning on joining BU for the 2027-28 season.
However, since McKenna, who is a projected first overall pick, is likely moving onto the NHL next season, there’s an urgency to replace their top star.
Penn State will also lose a good chunk of its roster, as Matthew DiMarsico, Aiden Fink and Charlie Cerrato have already turned pro. It also lost its fourth-leading scorer J.J. Wiebusch who transferred to the University of Wisconsin.
Luckily, the Nittany Lions will have defenseman Jackson Smith, who was drafted in the first round, 14th overall in the 2025 Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets, return for his sophomore season.
Additionally, a handful of NHL prospects are joining the roster for the 2026-27 season in Justin Poirier, Shea Busch, Kale Dach, Marco Mignosa, and Caeden Herrington.
Poirier is an elite goal scorer, who played for the University of Maine last season. Bringing in Shilov to play with Poirier is certainly an enticing fit as Shilov has a tremendous ability to carry the puck through the offensive zone.
He also has impressive decision making, which can help create scoring opportunities for those around him on the ice.
Needless to say, Penn State is becoming a college hockey powerhouse, with its ability to flip top prospects from well-known and favorable institutions.
The big question is, whether he’ll decide to attend college next season, or wait it out until the year after, like he initially planned.
Penn State Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Penn State Nittany Lions. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.