Background
Anton Silayev is a 6-foot-7-inch, 207-pound left-handed defender. He was a lesser-known prospect coming into the season who has made his name known not only overseas but here in North America, as he finds himself as the number one international prospect. He played this past season in the KHL, appearing in 63 games and putting up 11 points (3-8). What really makes him an interesting pick is that he played most of the season as a 17-year-old and played a decent role as well.
Positive scouting report.
When researching Silayev, I came across a theme that seemed pretty similar to last year's draft theme. If it weren’t for Macklin Celebrini, Silayev would be hands down the number one pick, which kind of caught me off guard a bit as I have not heard much about him. The more I looked into him, the more I started to understand what some of these scouts saw. He is an excellent defensive defenseman; he’s not going to win style points for his playing style, but he’s going to be someone that can be relied on to make a big stop and control the play when he is called upon. One of my favorite scouting reports I read on him was that he is not the flashiest player, but he doesn’t cheat on offense, instead trying to find the best possible play he can make without compromising any dangerous chances in the other direction. This seems to be a rare quality among defensemen in the new age of hockey.
He’s smart with the puck and can make solid passes when he needs to. He has a massive frame that he already knows how to use when it comes to being physical, and he’s only going to get bigger and more dangerous as he puts on more weight and muscle. Silayev seems to have all the tools to make him the number-one shut-down defensiveman in the NHL.
Negative Scouting Report
The flaws in the Silayev game are very few, but that doesn’t mean they should be pointed out. He truly has a defensive mindset, and whenever he tries to run the offense, he seems to rush things a bit and get ahead of himself. Paired with the right partner, this is a very minor issue and something that could develop over time. The other common criticism I have seen about his game is that, despite his size, his shot leaves a lot to be desired. Now I am not sure if he just doesn’t see himself as a shooter or if he's one of those awkward people trying to learn how to play in your body after a growth spurt situation. I do believe this is also a minor thing that, wherever he ends up, I will be able to work with him and get him where he needs to be. The last red flag for Silayev is the Russian effect. He is currently signed with his KHL club through the 2025–26 season, which means he won't be making his way to the NHL until the 2026–27 season. Obviously, things can change, but considering he has already made an impact in the KHL, I can't imagine his team just letting him walk to the NHL. This could be something that will definitely be on teams minds as they get ready to make their picks.
Final Thoughts
Anton Silayev seems like a real-deal defensive prospect and could be a truly great number-one defender. For me, the question is, How legit is he? Almost every scout talks about how he came out of nowhere this season, and while I think you can assume he can continue that growth, you have to wonder if it was a fluke season. For the Hawks, I think this is an easy pass for a couple of reasons. The first reason they are set for the left-handed defenseman is that there is a log jam in the system, and they need to focus their attention on the right-hand side. The second reason is that I think the wait for him to make the jump is too far away. I think that the 2026–27 season will be the first season that the Hawks will say they have their eyes set on the playoffs, and I hope they are set with their defenders before then. Silayev won't have to wait long to get called in the first round, but it won't be before pick three if it's up to me.
Prospect Spotlight Series Cayden Lindstorm
May 20th Anton Silayev
May 28th Zeev Buium
June 3rd Konsta Helenius
June 10th Ivan Demidov
June 17th Artyom Levshunov
June 24 Final Draft Thoughts
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