This story was originally published on Hockey Mountain High, part of the Mile High Sports network.

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The Colorado Avalanche finally made their first two picks in the 2026 NHL Draft, selecting Egor Shilov and Beckett Hamilton. Shilov was selected in the second round at 43rd overall, and Hamilton was selected in the third round at 74th overall.

Egor Shilov

Shilov is an 18-year-old who measures six feet tall and 177 pounds. He’s played for three different teams in the last three seasons, coming off his most impressive season to date just recently.

He played in the QJMHL for the Victoriaville Tigres, with 63 games played. In those 63 games, he recorded an impressive 32 goals and 50 assists.


In four playoff games with the Tigres, he added two goals and three assists. The left-handed shooter can also play on the wing as needed.

Scouts describe Shilov as a sharpshooter and a skilled creator. Playing the game at his own speed, he can drive plays forward and make plays happen. Shilov joins the Avalanche thanks to a pick that came at the expense of trading Valeri Nichushkin to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Per Shilov’s EliteProspects page, he will play one more season in Victoriaville before heading down the collegiate route. He will then play his 2027–28 season at Penn State.

Beckett Hamilton

Beckett Hamilton is an 18-year-old centerman weighing in at 170 pounds and is 5-foot-11. The right-handed shooter spent last season in the WHL with the Red Deer Rebels.

In 67 regular-season games, he scored 24 goals and dished out 38 assists for 62 points. He also averaged a point per game in five playoff games, made up of two goals and three assists.


“I hope I can be a 200-foot forward, play hard, but also have a lot of skill and be a producer,” Hamilton said. “I’m a smart skill forward, but I like to play with grit as well. So I think I will fit right in with the team’s culture, and I’m super excited to get started.”

Hamilton will return to Red Deer next season as the team’s captain. The young leader’s skills will certainly be an asset to the Avalanche when he enters the system.

Conversing with his teammates, like Gabriel Landeskog and Cale Makar, can only increase his skills further, both on and off the ice. Hamilton compared himself to Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston.

“I can learn so much from them because they’re all amazing players,” Hamilton said. “I can learn those little details from those guys because they obviously have a ton of experience and know a lot about the game.”

Shilov and Hamilton will be part of the next crop of Avalanche prospects joining the system, and will be joined by even more as the Avs get through more of their picks on Saturday.