DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY

Tag: Dima Zhilkin

  • Game Report – Saginaw Spirit 3 vs Brampton Steelheads 2 – October 3rd, 2026

    Game Report – Saginaw Spirit 3 vs Brampton Steelheads 2 – October 3rd, 2026

    This matchup between the high-octane offense of the Saginaw Spirit and the winless Brampton Steelheads had the potential to be quite lopsided. However, Saginaw entered the game without a pair of draft-eligible defensemen: leading point scorer on the back end Levi Harper and 6-foot-7 shutdown defenseman Drew Roscoe.

    From the moment the puck dropped, Dima Zhilkin was all over Brampton, whether it was dancing around a defender in the offensive zone or running someone over with a massive hit in the neutral zone. Brampton was having a hard time getting set up at even strength, but then Saginaw took a penalty. On the ensuing power play, Keaton Ardagh slapped home a one-timer off a pass from Nathan Amidovski down low at the goal line, beating the goaltender far side to give Brampton the lead.

    The second period was much of the same, with Saginaw controlling possession. Halfway through the period, Zhilkin and Braidy Wassilyn got a 2-on-1 rush and, as the duo has done so well to start the season, made no mistake. They threaded passes back and forth before Wassilyn finished the play to tie the game.

    The Saginaw dynamic duo was not done there. Shortly after, on the power play, Wassilyn sent a pass through the slot to Zhilkin, who scored with a perfectly placed one-timer to give Saginaw the lead.

    With the clock winding down in the third period, Brampton pulled its goaltender. With a minute remaining in the game, Geno Carcone corralled a rebound and tied it, sending the game to overtime.

    Zhilkin continued creating scoring chance after scoring chance and eventually, with 30 seconds left in overtime, he scored. Once again, the goal came off a pass from Wassilyn, giving both players three points on the night. On the highlight-reel overtime winner, Zhilkin received the puck at the left faceoff dot, skated high into open ice, froze the defender with a head fake and scored from the high slot.

    The Standouts

    Saginaw’s Top Line

    The first line of the Saginaw Spirit completely dominated the game. The chemistry between Dima Zhilkin and Braidy Wassilyn has been incredible to watch early in the season, and that continued against Brampton.

    Zhilkin had a great game, affecting play in all three zones. Apart from scoring, he was very aggressive on the forecheck and relentless with his stick lifts, giving Brampton players all kinds of trouble. He also landed three or four massive hits in the neutral zone. His motor is one of the first things you notice when watching him. He is never standing still and is always attacking.

    In this game in particular, his edges stood out. Multiple times, Zhilkin would be against the boards with a defender on him, and the next thing you knew, he would spin off, leave the defender behind and have open ice in front of him as he barreled toward the opposing net looking to score.

    By the end of the game, Zhilkin had 12 points in six games, while Wassilyn had a staggering 13 points in six games. While the pair has received plenty of attention for their incredible start to the season, the third member of Saginaw’s top line, Dmitry Savin, deserves some recognition as well.

    Savin is an underrated part of Saginaw’s top line. He is always firing shots on net through traffic to create rebounds and has the vision to find the high-end players he plays with in stride. It might seem easy to play with such dynamic players, but Savin has been a stabilizing force on the line. If his season keeps going this way, he should hear his name called in the 2027 NHL Draft.

  • Weekly 2027 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    The 2027 season is underway for prospects in Europe and across North American junior hockey. The American college season is starting up soon. That means NHL teams and fans can start to get a read on prospects to keep an eye on as the season progresses. This weekly column will highlight three of the top performers eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft. The first edition of the 2027 Three Stars features two projected top ten picks getting a hot start to their draft years and a first overall pick in the OHL establishing himself on a new team.

    Here are the first draft eligible three stars for the 2027 season:

    Dima Zhilkin | RW | Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

    After posting 75 points (36 goals, 39 assists) in 59 games in his pre-draft season, slick winger Dima Zhilkin established himself as an early player to watch for the 2027 class. The Toronto, ON native hasn’t wasted any time getting to work, two weekends into the OHL season. Zhilkin has eight points (four goals, four assists) in four games to start the campaign.

    The 2027-28 University of Michigan picked up three points (one goal, two assists) in a pair of games to continue his dominant start on the score sheet. In game one, Zhilkin parked himself near the front of the Niagara Ice Dogs and stripped the puck away from a defender. He proceeded to flip the puck over the outstretched goalkeeper for his fourth goal of the season.

    After showing off his slick stick work in the first game, it was his vision and play-making that stood out against the Windsor Spitfires. With the game tied at one early in the second period, Zhilkin fed the puck down low and picked up a secondary assist after the rebound was shovelled in.

    The projected 10th overall pick on Draft Prospect Hockey’s 2027 Draft preview added another helper later in the game. Subsequently, after a pass in the face-off circle, Zhilkin waited for a lane and fed the puck to the front for a tap-in.

    Carter Meyer | C | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

    American centre Carter Meyer could’ve stayed with the United States National Development Program for his draft season, but the 2009-born pivot opted to take his talents to Quebec. The 17-year-old joined his older brother Freddy, a member of the 2025-26 Remparts, in the Quebec capital. The early returns suggest it was a smart move. The Winchester, MA, native has seven points (one goal, six assists) in four games.

    Meyer opened his weekend with a big outing against Shawinigan. Breaking in on an odd-man rush with St. Louis Blues prospect Maddox Dagenais, Meyer slipped it over to the 2026 first-round pick for a tap-in goal.

    The former Three Rivers School prep star helped facilitate great puck movement on the power play to pick up a secondary assist as the Remparts took a 3-0 lead. Just four minutes later, Meyer completed the assist hat trick. He fed Dagenais for a one-timer that bounced out for teammate Nathan Quinn. The 2025 Philadelphia Flyers sixth-round pick sent it back to Dagenais, who wired it to the top shelf.

    Meyer was held off the score sheet in Quebec’s 5-4 overtime win but still found ways to contribute. The projected seventh overall pick on Draft Prospect Hockey’s 2027 Draft Preview finished second in ice-time among forwards for the Remparts in the contest. He won seven of nine face-offs, had three hits, and had a pair of takeaways.

    Kaden McGregor | C | Brantford Bulldogs

    Kaden McGregor had a solid first year in the Ontario Hockey League after being the first overall pick by the Peterborough Petes in 2025. The Braeside, ON native had 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in 39 games in his rookie campaign. An off-season trade sent Cooper Dennis to the Lift-lock City in exchange for the former Ottawa Valley Titans star.

    McGregor has quickly acclimated himself with the rebuilt Bulldogs. The January 2009-born centre has six points (three goals, three assists) in five games for the undefeated squad.

    Opening the week against his former team, McGregor helped seal the deal with a marker in the third period. With teammate Adam Nemec in on the fore-check, McGregor settled into some open ice in the slot. The loose puck squirted right to him, and he wired a quick snap shot past the unsuspecting Peterborough goalie.

    Despite an offensive domination by the Bulldogs of the Kingston Frontenacs by a score of 10-4, McGregor was held pointless. He still managed to fire three shots on goal and had six takeaways.

    The 2025 Ontario high school silver medallist had his biggest showing of the weekend on Sunday with three points (two goals, one assist) in a 5-3 win over the Oshawa Generals. McGregor picked up a secondary assist in the second period for his first point of the evening. Later in the frame, he scored the first of his two markers. On the power play, McGregor took a pass at the point before walking a few steps in. He then wired a wrist shot up and over the goalie’s glove. Shortly afterwards, McGregor doubled up. After finding some open ice in front of the Generals’ goal, he waited patiently for a pass and then quickly redirected the feed over the goalie.

  • 2027 NHL Draft Spotlight of the Week: Dima Zhilkin 

    Saginaw Spirit forward and 2027 NHL Draft-eligible Dima Zhilkin had high expectations coming into the 2026-27 season after recording 36 goals and 75 points in 59 games during his D-1 season in the OHL. That stat line tied him for second in points by a D-1 player over the past decade with former Saginaw Spirit Michael Misa.

    Zhilkin did nothing to temper those expectations during the opening weekend of the OHL season, recording three goals, two assists and five points in two games.

    Friday, Sept. 18 at Soo Greyhounds

    Zhilkin’s first goal of the night came on the power play off a pass from fellow highly touted 2027 NHL Draft-eligible prospect Levi Harper. After receiving the puck near the faceoff dot, Zhilkin walked in and fired a wrist shot far side, beating the goaltender.

    His second came after new teammate Braidy Wassilyn, who came over from the London Knights, drove hard to the net and sent a pass Zhilkin’s way. Despite having a defender hanging off his back, Zhilkin was able to redirect the puck into the net to tie the game late in the third period.

    Saturday, Sept. 19 vs. Flint Firebirds

    Early in the first period, Zhilkin drew a penalty, giving Saginaw a two-man advantage. On the ensuing power play, Zhilkin unleashed a powerful one-timer from the high slot that gave the opposing goaltender all kinds of trouble, allowing Maple Leafs prospect Brody Pepoy to score on the rebound and tie the game 1-1.

    Later in the first period, Zhilkin took advantage of an errant Flint pass that gave him a one-on-one opportunity from the top of the circle. He quickly settled the puck and ripped a shot five-hole before the defender could close the gap, giving Saginaw the lead.

    Zhilkin’s second assist and third point of the night came on the power play. This time, instead of firing another one-timer after receiving a pass in the slot, he recognized that the Flint defenders were anticipating the shot and sent a perfect one-touch pass to Braidy Wassilyn for the goal.

    While Zhilkin’s five-point opening weekend was impressive, it was not perfect. Saginaw lost both games, with Zhilkin on the ice for a number of goals against, including the overtime winner in the opening game against Soo. That is something to watch as the season progresses, particularly as he takes on a larger role with the Spirit.

    Zhilkin also recorded 19 shot attempts through two games, which looks impressive on the surface, but the quality of those attempts was inconsistent. At even strength in particular, he often settled for shots from low-danger areas rather than working his way into more threatening positions. On the power play, however, Zhilkin was able to set up on the left wall or rotate up high with the defenceman to find open space, putting himself in position to unleash his dangerous one-timer and generate higher-quality scoring chances.

    Overall, this was a great way for Zhilkin to start the season. He should put up some impressive offensive numbers this year and, if he continues producing at this level, hear his name called very early in the 2027 NHL Draft.

  • Game Report – Soo Greyhounds 5 vs Saginaw Spirit 4 – September 18th, 2026

    The Soo Greyhounds and Saginaw Spirit opened their seasons on Friday. The Hounds took an early 3-1 lead in the 1st. All 3 Soo goals were scored by 2025 OHL 7th Overall Pick Noah Laus. The second went scoreless, but the Spirit mounted a comeback and tied it at 3. Not long after the Hounds would respond with their 4th.

    With under 2 minutes left in regulation, Saginaw tied it again on Captain Dima Zhilkin’s 2nd of the game. That would force play beyond 60. Following an early Spirit slashing call, the Greyhounds’ new addition and son of former Soo Captain Trevor Daley Jr would rifle a shot short-side over Sokolov’s blocker for the overtime winner.

    Throughout the game, several players caught our eye.

    Trevor Daley Jr – Daley got better each period; he struggled early with the speed of the game, including the quick decisions and play, but Junior adapted fast and improved every shift. Later in the night, he started to really showcase his abilities, showing speed, hands in tight spaces, to cap off his night with the overtime winner as his first career OHL goal.

    Noah Laus – The second-year Hound was in the right spot at all times, always putting himself in a scoring position. He is a very cerebral and high hockey IQ player. That was not just evident with his natural Hat Trick in the first, but what he did to make them happen. Laus will be an underrated name to watch for this year’s draft.

    Dima Zhilkin – The Spirit Captain was quiet for a majority of the first half, however, after the slow start, he was able to showcase his elite skating ability and edgework, using his speed in all ends of the ice, disrupting multiple plays in his own end, which led to breakouts. Along with his two goals, it made for a solid night for the 2027 draftee.

    Levi Harper – Harper had an absolute roller coaster of a game, made multiple defensive errors, struggled to complete passes, and mishandled the puck, but was able to find ways to contribute offensively, a patient short pass to Wassilyn for the first goal, a quick pass to Zhilkin for a goal on the power play, and a long stretch pass to a wide-open Wassilyn, which created another Zhilkin goal to tie the game in the 3rd. Even with a 3-point night, this was not a game to remember on his part. If he can limit some of those lapses, the offense is there no doubt.

    Gordei Khotkov – Definitely a player to keep an eye on for the 2028 draft. Khotkov showed a ton of skill, even with his large 6’6 frame, scored a very nice goal and showed he can utilize his size well for his shot. If he improves his skating ability and agility, he may be a very sneaky prospect to watch over the years.

    Quinn McKenzie – McKenzie was a notable player that really stood out. The New Jersey Devils prospect, showing his speed and pace, are on a different level than most, if not everyone on the ice, and has outstanding puck control, especially at his 5’9, 175lb frame. He will be a leader for the Greyhounds and one of the main offensive contributors.

  • Doing it the ‘Canadian Way’ in Comeback Win Against Finland

    Team Canada rallied back from a three-goal deficit to beat Team Finland 5-3 on Day 4 of the World Junior Summer Showcase.

    Following a tough loss yesterday against Team Sweden, all eyes were on Canada to see how they would respond today against Finland.

    The game opened cautiously, with both teams playing a tight, defensive style, waiting for the other to make a mistake. It wasn’t until the final minute of the period that Finland broke the ice, with Julius Saari picking up the loose puck off a faceoff draw and firing it past William Lacelle.

    Canada began to put the pressure on but couldn’t convert. Exploiting Canada’s aggressive push, Eetu Orpana showed off his speed, wheeling around Keaton Verhoeff and wrapping it around the inside of the post to beat Lacelle to the far post, doubling Finland’s lead. 

    Shortly after, Jesse Pärssinen blasted one home on the power play, giving Finland a commanding 3-0 advantage. 

    Canada, championing their motto to return to the “old Canadian style,” did exactly that. They rallied back with three goals in the final five minutes of the second period, including two in the last minute alone. Dima Zhilkin led the charge with two breakaway goals, before Keaton Verhoeff buried a one-timer off a pass from Cole Reschny with just 14 seconds left.

    Caleb Desnoyers kicked off the third-period scoring by jamming a puck in on the power play during a scramble in the crease. Minutes later, Jackson Smith unleashed a screened shot from the point to extend Canada’s lead to 5-3. Finland mounted a late push, but with Lacelle locked in, the comeback effort came too late to stop Canada from sealing the victory.

    Extra Time:

    In accordance with the Showcase format, both teams agreed to play an additional overtime period and shootout regardless of the regulation score.

    It was a slow overtime period with Finland dominating all of the possession. Vertti Svensk was the OT hero, scoring one just over the left pad of Lacelle.

    The shootout ended 3-1 in favour of Canada across 5 shooters. Desnoyers, Reschny, and Tynan Lawrence all scored for Canada, with Somervuori being the only goal scorer for Finland. 

    Both teams will enjoy a day off tomorrow before the final day of Showcase action on Saturday, where Finland takes on Sweden, and Canada will take on Team USA.

    Standouts:

    F Cole Reschny (CAN | Calgary Flames)

    This was a completely different Cole Reschny than the one on display at last year’s World Juniors. Sitting out the first game against Sweden, I was interested to see what Reschny would provide for this Canadian team, but he was excellent tonight. He generated numerous high-quality chances, assisting on both Zhilkin and Verhoeff’s goals as well. His physical presence stood out as well, using strong positioning to separate body from puck and delivering several heavy hits. He had the best game of anyone on Day 4 and will be a must-watch player in Canada’s game against Team USA.

    F Caleb Desnoyers (CAN | Utah Mammoth)

    Desnoyers was a standout in all three periods as a hard-nosed forechecker who forced turnovers all game long. On one sequence, his relentless pressure forced a giveaway that drew a hooking penalty, which he later capitalized on himself. As a returning player, he’ll be relied upon to log heavy minutes and anchor the penalty kill for Team Canada come December. 

    F Dima Zhilkin (CAN | 2027 Draft Eligible)

    One of the most intriguing prospects for the 2027 NHL Entry Draft, Zhilkin showed exactly why he’ll hear his name called early next June. While his speed jumps off the highlight reel, scoring both of his goals on breakaways, his game offers much more. He brought noticeable physicality and a drive to get to the dirty areas of the ice, generating several quality chances in tight. If Zhilkin maintains this level of play, he’ll make a compelling case to be a top five pick.

    G Jester Rossi (FIN | 2027 Draft Eligible)

    Though Finland let the game slip away late, Rossi was the sole reason they stayed ahead early. The 2027 draft-eligible netminder was positionally sound all night, rarely leaving himself out of place. He made a compelling case to push for the backup job despite two strong goalies ahead of him on the depth chart, setting up a key test if he gets the start against Sweden.