Player Discussion Marat Khusnutdinov

[lopey]

Oh I dont think he is going to make it either. He seems to always play against the teams system. I think he has talent but its instinctive talent and doesn’t know how to apply that within a system. Hope I am wrong and at least they give him a good 10 game tryout to make sure.

I am going to defend him a litttle though too. Seen Fraser Minten’s stats. Everyone saying he is a great prospect but doesn’t have the greatest numbers either.

All I am saying is that he hasn’t had the same amount of games in the NHL as Knut has had. So it’s hard to compare. Minten is probably a better gauge but even that comes with caveats.

Agreed. One thing about Minten is he has shown flashes when he was called up with the leafs

 

[BamBamCam]

It was Brazeau they traded for him right?

Couldn't be more night and day between the guy they traded and the guy they got back. Like dealing a barge for a speed boat.

Hoping he keeps it up and it isn't just all adrenaline results right now.

Yes it was for Brazeau but he's a left winger playing in Freddy's spot

 

[I am Bettman]

Agreed. One thing about Minten is he has shown flashes when he was called up with the leafs

Lysell has looked good in the chances he’s received too, we just aren’t giving him any experience.

 

[Gee Wally]

 

[ODAAT]

Like what I`ve seen so far, think he`d make a solid 3rd line winger next year, has a motor that doesn`t quit which is refreshing

 

[CellyHard]

Think he’s getting a little overhyped to a degree (shooting 100%) also probably should have had another assist on that unbelievable Ullmark save.

I like his energy, forechecking and poise with the puck

 

[JCRO]

For a smaller guy, he is both rather strong on the puck and very good at positioning himself to not get knocked off the puck easily at all. It may be more of the latter but still.

Also has quite the vision and speed.

Its a small sample size but you cant help but continue to wonder how the F Minny let him go in a trade for Brazeau

 

[Kegs]

For a smaller guy, he is both rather strong on the puck and very good at positioning himself to not get knocked off the puck easily at all. It may be more of the latter but still.

Also has quite the vision and speed.

Its a small sample size but you cant help but continue to wonder how the F Minny let him go in a trade for Brazeau

Minnesota loves getting fleeced by the bruins.

 

[ODAAT]

Minnesota loves getting fleeced by the bruins.

for sure, I simply can`t imagine what Trader Bill saw in Brazz that he had to have for that return? Fire able offense

 

[Over the volcano]

Only 22 years old too

 

[Gee Wally]

It has been a wild ride for new Bruin Marat Khusnutdinov, who is getting acclimated quickly - The Boston Globe

Demoted by the Wild, he has two goals in five games with Boston heading into Thursday night.

www.bostonglobe.com

LAS VEGAS — Marat Khusnutdinov calls Jakub Lauko a “professional Bostonian.”

Khusnutdinov arrived with Lauko and a sixth-round pick from Minnesota in the Justin Brazeau trade-deadline deal. The speedy Russian winger has leaned on Lauko to get acclimated to everything Boston.

“I’m in a good spot,” Khusnutdinov said following an optional skate at T-Mobile Arena Thursday morning. “He’s helped me so much. How we play, the system, and even where to go to dinner.”

Khusnutdinov had been playing a fourth-line role and killing penalties with the Wild until a recent AHL demotion that was disappointing not only for the player but also Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin.

Prior to hosting the Bruins March 2, Guerin sent Khusnutdinov to Iowa in a salary cap move after the team had acquired Gustav Nyquist.

“To be honest with you, it stinks. It stinks for him because he’s been here all year, he’s played hard, he’s played well,” Guerin had said. “This is not your regular demotion. There’s a lot more to it. Yeah, it sucks.”

Less than a week later, Guerin had to deliver another message to Khusnutdinov.

“I go with Iowa to Rockford [for a game against the Icehogs], six or seven hours on a bus and after bus, Guerin called me and said, ‘We traded you to Boston. Good luck,’ ” said Khusnutdinov.

With the trade comes opportunity.

The Bruins have allowed Khusnutdinov to play a top-six role with Elias Lindholm and Lauko, and he’s getting time on the second power-play unit.

“Glad to be here. And it’s a new experience. It’s a new team for me and I have more ice time, second power play. It’s what I want,” he said. “Yeah, it’s a perfect, it’s more ice time. I can show my skill. It’s more momentum, more shots. I think it’s good for a player if you play top six. I’d say unbelievable.”

After representing Russia at several international tournaments (the U-17 Hockey Challenge, the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, the U-18 World Championships, and the World Juniors), Khusnutdinov spent parts of five seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League.

He signed with the Wild, who drafted him 37th overall in 2020, in February of 2024. He’d been with the Wild since coming to America.

“[The Kontinental] is different. I think it was a good time for me to go to United States,” he said. “I’m young. I think it’s a level up for me.”

Khusnutdinov spoke virtually no English when he arrived.

“We have English in school in Moscow, but I don’t have too much time,” he said. “I play in U-16, U-17, U-18 national team and we just go to tournaments, then back to school for one month, then go one month to hockey.”

He credited Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov for teaching him English and said he will concentrate on learning more this summer.

A center normally, Khusnutdinov has been playing left wing with the Bruins, which has been a bit of an adjustment, but otherwise he feels comfortable playing the Bruins’ style.

“We play fast. I think a fast game is good. I’m feeling perfect in this system,” he said.

It’s a small sample size, but Sacco likes what Khusnutdinov has done with his chance.

“He plays with some pace and he’s on top of pucks quickly. So, we like that. We like that part of his game,” said Sacco. “I think the one thing he’s got to continue to work on is just away from the puck, but that’s something that we can build into his game, hopefully.”

Fellow Muscovite Nikita Zadorov has enjoyed having Khusnutdinov around.

“He’s a great kid,’' said Zadorov. “He brings joy every day. He is smiling all the time. He’s kind of quiet on his own a little bit. But I mean, you can see he’s been leader, leader in his clubs where he played for. He’s been captain everywhere so he can bring some leadership to the young guys as well and lead by example as well. And he’s been playing well. He is skilled, he’s fast, he sees the ice pretty well. He protects the pucks really well down low, so you can make plays and he’s been great so far.”

A restricted free agent, Khusnutdinov would welcome the opportunity to extend his stay in Boston.

“A hundred percent,” he said. “It’s an unbelievable team and an unbelievable city. If I signed a contract here and stayed, I’d be so happy.”

 

[duffy]

for sure, I simply can`t imagine what Trader Bill saw in Brazz that he had to have for that return? Fire able offense

Probably needed a big body with decent hands to be net front guy. With Marat, maybe he had guys he viewed as similar and decided to open up a contract spot. Who knows but glad we got him, he's smart, goes to the dirty areas, makes beautiful passes, and can really shoot the puck. His shot alone will be a plus for the B's going forward.

 

[Number8]

I have to say, I've enjoyed watching this kid a lot so far. I get the vibe watching him that he loves to play the game. I am rooting for him to do well.

 

[Sheppy]

I have to say, I've enjoyed watching this kid a lot so far. I get the vibe watching him that he loves to play the game. I am rooting for him to do well.

Yep. Zero issues at all with him so far. I'd like to see him shoot more, you can tell he's got a decent shot.

 

[Acie]

He reminds me a little bit of Dougie Gilmour.

Both in his stature and his game.

 

[TD Charlie]

I can't repeat what my father calls him, but if TD Charlie Sr. notices a player it's almost always on either end of the spectrum. In Koozy's case, it's the intense praise side of things right now.