A product of a blockbuster trade has officially signed with the Windsor Spitfires.
The OHL club announced Friday that it had signed left-winger Egor Afanasyev to a standard OHL Player and Education Package. Afanasyev's rights had been acquired by Windsor in the December 2018 trade that sent star goaltender Michael DiPietro to the Ottawa 67s. Afanasyev was drafted 106th overall by the 67s in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection.
Afanasyev, 18, is a native of Tver, Russia, standing at 6'4" and weighing 210 pounds, according to the Spitfires. He is coming off a highly productive year with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League (USHL), with 27 goals scored for a total of 62 points in 58 regular-season games played. He also had six additional points in eight playoff contests.
That output has made the forward an attractive option for NHL teams in the upcoming 2019 Entry Draft. Afanasyev is currently ranked 16th in the North American skater rankings ahead of next weekend's draft in Vancouver.
The season before, Afanasyev split time between Muskegon and the Russian U-17 team.
"He's one of the most improved players in North America over the last two years," said Spitfires general manager and part-owner Warren Rychel. "He's got the whole package. He's big. He plays physical. He can really shoot it and he's got the ability to finish. We're incredibly happy to welcome Egor."
Afanasyev is expected to join the team as training camp opens in late August. The Spitfires open their regular season on September 21 at home against the Peterborough Petes.