CHICAGO – The Colorado Avalanche utilized their privilege atop the draft board in the fifth round, 125th overall, to select Russian center Igor Shvyrev.

The dynamic Russian is listed at 6’0″, 205 pounds and most recently played for Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk of the MHL, which is a step below the KHL. He registered 70 points (21 g, 49 a) in 40 games played.

The Draft Analyst had this to say about Shvyrev:

One of Russia’s top young talents who was Stalnye Lisy’s first line center and scoring leader, Shvyryov is arguably Europe’s most talented draft-eligible playmaker. The work needed to get him to leave Russia for North America is part of what keeps him relatively obscure — he was kept off Central Scouting’s rankings despite being one of the MHL’s top point and assist producers. Shvyryov is a dynamic offensive player with excellent vision and hockey sense, and he’s deadly in odd-man situations. He has very good straight-line speed and can hammer the puck with accuracy, plus he’s defensively responsible and won 56 percent of over 1000 faceoffs. Stalnye Lisy relied on him for every key moment, and their power play was humming thanks to Shvyryov’s stickhandling, patience and ability to draw penalty killers away from the middle of the ice.