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On Monday, the Philadelphia Flyers signed forward Ilya Pautov to a three year entry level contract. The Russian wing was the team’s sixth round pick (173rd overall) in 2024 and joins fellow draftees Jack Berglund, Spencer Gill, Jett Luchanko, and Noah Powell in the organizational pipe-line.
Paulov has displayed good stickhandling skills and speed since his draft year. He profiles as a potential later round gem, not unlike what the Flyers think they have in rookie Alex Bump, who was a 2022 fifth round pick.
The 5-foot-11, 167lb winger split time during the 2025-26 season between MHL Krasnaya Armiya Moskva & VHL Zvezda Moskva. Pautov had an impressive run with the Russian junior club, scoring 10 goals and 23 points in 30 games played. He followed that up with a strong postseason scoring four goals and 10 points in nine playoff games. In addition, he played 25 games with Zvezda with a goal and five points.
In his prior seasons with KAM, Pautov scored 15 goals and 45 points during his draft year. He followed it up with a 17 goal, 45 point campaign in 2024-25.
While slightly undersized, Pautov is a “sturdily built player,” according to Hockey Hot Stove draft expert Russ Cohen.
“His skating is good and his skillful passing is top-notch,” Cohen said. “He has really good vision on the power-play, though (in the MHL) he didn’t play the toughest penalty killing units.”
It’s expected that the 20-year-old Pautov will come to North America and play for the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the fall.
“A year of building his body will help a lot,” Cohen said. “He doesn’t have a decisive shot, so it’s important to get him to North America as fast as you can so that he can get acclimated. Next season could be a real year of growth for him.”
“That said, don’t expect him on the Flyers’ roster in the next year or two. I’d expect it’ll be a two year process for him in Lehigh.”
Pautov’s addition certainly reflects GM Daniel Briere and his staff’s confidence in the 2024 class with five players from that group now under contract.
Flyers Giving Up Sulku
Flyers gave up the rights to 2022 seventh-round pick Santeri Sulku.
The club opted to not sign the 21 year old Finnish forward before Monday’s deadline, according to multiple sources. As a result, Sulku becomes a draft-related unrestricted free agent.
Sulku’s odds were already long as a seventh round pick and the Flyers loaded up with young wingers. His numbers this past season certainly didn’t play in his favor. Playing for KooKoo in Liiga (Finland’s top league), he scored seven goals and 16 points in 24 games. He notched an assist in six playoff games.
