Egor Afanasyev

Playing career

Afanasyev began his North American junior career with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL, who selected him 156th overall in the 2017 USHL Futures Draft. In his second season with Muskegon in 2018–19, he led the team with 27 goals and 35 assists for 62 points, earning a spot on the USHL's Third All-Star team.

That performance led to the Nashville Predators picking him 45th overall in the second round of the 2019 NHL entry draft. He then moved to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) to play for the Windsor Spitfires in 2019–20 after the club acquired his rights from the Ottawa 67's. With Windsor, Afanasyev made an immediate impact, leading the team with 31 goals and co-leading alongside Tyler Angle with 67 points in 62 regular season games.

He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Predators on 20 October 2019. The playoffs were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the following 2020–21 season was also cancelled, ending his time with the Spitfires. To continue developing, Afanasyev returned to Russia on loan from the Predators, signing a one-year contract with CSKA Moscow of the KHL. He made his professional debut in the 2020–21 season with CSKA, recording 2 goals and 6 points in 16 regular season games with limited ice time, and also played in the VHL and MHL.

Returning to the Predators for the next season, he was among the last cuts at training camp and was assigned to the AHL affiliate Milwaukee Admirals. In his rookie AHL season, he collected 12 goals and 33 points through 74 regular season games. In his final year of his entry-level contract, Afanasyev continued in the AHL to begin the season. He received his first recall to the Nashville Predators on 12 March 2023 and made his NHL debut that night in a 2–1 shootout victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

He scored his first NHL goal against Jacob Markström of the Calgary Flames in a 3–2 shootout win on 10 April 2023. On 23 June 2024, the Predators traded him to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Ozzy Wiesblatt. As a restricted free agent, the Sharks tendered him a qualifying offer. On 1 August 2024, Afanasyev opted to return to Russia, signing a three-year contract with CSKA Moscow.

On 19 May 2025, the Sharks announced they had signed him to a one-year, $800,000 contract. Returning to North America, he played the entire season with the Sharks' AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, posting 14 goals and 40 points through 64 regular season games. With his KHL rights acquired from CSKA by Avangard Omsk, Afanasyev returned to Russia as a pending free agent, agreeing to a two-year contract with Omsk on 1 July 2026.