Dima Zhilkin came in No. 8 in TSN’s pre-season draft ranking, but the Saginaw Spirit captain considers himself No. 1 on another list. Zhilkin believes he’s the best rat – a description of an on-ice agitator he embraces – in the 2027 draft class.
The numbers seem to back up that boast. Zhilkin racked up 100 penalty minutes to go along with the 75 points he produced in 59 Ontario Hockey League games last season. He’s aiming for the century mark in PIMs again this season.
“It just shows my competitiveness,” the 5-foot-10, 183-pound winger said. “I’m not afraid to go into battle against those big guys and show that side of my game. It’s part of the game. It’s fun and I love doing it. I love getting under people’s skin, and if that helps me in my game and maybe sets them back it’s almost like an advantage.”
Asked to grade himself out of five in a variety of categories, Zhilkin gives himself a four for skating and a three for defensive play, but perfect marks for puck skills, hockey sense, competitiveness and physical play.
“I’m a poised player,” he said. “I can create plays under pressure, but I think one of my strengths is my physicality. I think for a smaller guy, that’s not something you see too often.”
Zhilkin models his style of play on Carolina’s Seth Jarvis and Buffalo’s Zach Benson. He likes how Jarvis uses reverse bumps to create space and is looking to incorporate that more into his game this season. And Zhilkin admires Benson’s ferocious forechecking.
“He’s just a dog,” Zhilkin observed. “He’s sort of relentless. When he loses the puck he’s always giving second and third efforts to gain that possession back. He’s physical as well and gets in people’s faces, which I love.”
The 17-year-old enjoys mixing it up physically and also verbally. How much trash talking does he do?
“Tons,” he said. “Lots. I love it. Once I say something to a guy, just seeing his reaction adds more fuel to my fire and it makes me play better.”
Zhilkin is always listening closely when teammates are chatting in the dressing room before games in the hopes of finding out some good material on the opposition.
“There’s little things about every player,” the Toronto native said. “Maybe some flaws in whatever they do off the ice or on the ice, so I try to target that.”
His favourite chirp last season?
“I don’t know if it will be appropriate to share here,” Zhilkin says with a grin.
Playing on the edge sometimes means dropping the gloves, which Zhilkin did three times last season. In fact, his favourite penalty last year was jumping in to fight after a teammate absorbed a big hit.
“I know that I can go into a fight and win any fight that I want,” he said. “I think it’s just a mindset, to be honest.”
Zhilkin credits big brother Danny, who was a third-round pick of the Winnipeg Jets in 2022, for developing his skill in this area.
“Fighting with my brother when I was younger, not really on the ice, but off the ice a little bit, just [learning] how to get those licks in.”
Zhilkin is now leaning on Danny for advice on his draft season.
“He says there’s only one draft year so enjoy it ... I’m just trying to take it day by day and not trying to focus on the outside things and just play my game because it’s hockey at the end of the day. I grew up playing hockey and I love hockey. That’s why I play the game.”
Zhilkin hasn’t set a rankings-related goal when it comes to the draft, but he’s also not setting any limits either.
“I don’t think I have a ceiling,” he said. “I think the sky’s the limit for me and, yeah, I’m gonna push myself and do whatever I can to be the highest-drafted player.”
As for dealing with the draft-year spotlight?
“I love the pressure,” Zhilkin said. “I don’t think it bothers me at all. Whether it’s late in the game and we need a goal or a penalty shot to win the series or win the game, I love it all. I love having a spotlight on me and I think that’s when I strive.”
