The Evolution of Egor Afanasyev

Nashville Predators fans were excited when 22-year-old Egor Afanasyev finally made his NHL debut on March 11 against the L.A. Kings. Afanasyev has generated a lot of buzz among the Predators fan base since being drafted 45th overall by Nashville in the 2019 NHL Draft. Known primarily at the time for his shot, Afanasyev has spent the last several seasons working on rounding out his 200 foot game. 

Afanasyev's road to Nashville began with a statement season in the OHL in 2019-2020 with the Windsor Spitfires where he scored 31 goals and 67 points in 62 games that season. During the COVID affected season of 2020-2021, he headed back to Russia to play 16 games in the KHL scoring two goals and six points. When Afanasyev joined the Milwaukee Admirals for his rookie season in 2021-2022, he scored 12 goals and 33 points in 74 games but sat out the playoff run. 

Last season the 6-foot-4 forward recorded 13 goals and 26 points in 57 games with Milwaukee. When Afanasyev joined Nashville in mid March, he shared ice time with Cody Glass and Phil Tomasino until Jusso Pärssinen's return moved Afanasyev to a line with Mark Jankowski and Michael McCarron. His ice time fluctuated from just over sixteen minutes a game to seven and a half minutes a game. Afanasyev didn't put up the numbers he would have liked, scoring just one goal, but he gained valuable experience and will enter training camp with a chance to show continued growth in his game.