With the No. 173 overall pick of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers selected Russian forward Ilya Pautov from Krasnaya Armiya Moskva of the MHL — Russia’s top junior league.
Pautov, 18, appeared in 46 games last season, logging 15 goals and 45 points. He ranked second on the team in scoring behind only Alexei Churkin.
Pautov is notably small. At just 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, he’ll need to add considerable weight before even sniffing an NHL lineup. Despite his diminutive size, though, he plays an exciting game thanks to his high-end skill.
Pautov was ranked the 73rd best European skater in the draft by NHL Central Scouting.