2020 NHL Draft

Marat Khusnutdinov

SKA-1946 (MHL)

Steve Kournianos  |  2/29/2020 |  Nashville  |  [hupso]

Profile

Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Height / Weight: 5’11, 176 lbs
Born: July 17th, 2002 | Moscow, Russia
Nation: Russia

The Draft Analyst Ranking:

PRE AUG DEC JAN MAR JUN
NR 82 57 17 12 13

Regular Season

Season
Team GP G A PTS +/- PIM S S% FOW FO% TOI
2019-20 SKA-1946 (MHL) 41 13 24 37 +26 16 74 17.6 347 60.9 14:42

Scouting Report

A high-octane center with smarts who is confident on the puck and demands it when the stakes are high, Khusnutdinov is a shifty east-west pivot who is one of Russia’s most creative teenage playmakers. Whether for the under-18 team or for SKA-1946, he does the heavy lifting for his power-play unit and can shift the momentum in his favor by jumping into passing lanes for immediate counterattacks into opposing territory. He may not be big in stature, but he more than makes up for it in confidence, leg drive, balance, and tight-quarter quickness.

Torching the stat sheet in Russia’s MHL, which in terms of goals scored is the stingiest among all premier junior leagues, is something you rarely see from a first-year draft eligible. But Khusnutdinov not only lit up opposing defense with his production, but he did so while operating in a limited role. In fact, his points-per-60 minutes average at even strength (3.14) led all MHL players who played under 15 minutes a game.

Khusnutdinov plays with an edge and is willing to sacrifice his body at the off chance he decides to chip and chase. A 50/50 puck battle against him is no laughing matter, and bigger defenders have paid the price by underestimating his core strength, leg drive and powerful shoulders. At the forefront of his game, however, is his ability to carve up a defense through the neutral zone. Khusnutdinov has excellent speed and agility, and his quick first step is dropped before an opponent can anticipate his intentions.

Khusnutdinov delivers the puck through the tiniest of windows with surgical precision, but he also is excellent at executing or orchestrating give-and-go’s, weaves, cycles, and backdoor plays. He has wonderful hands and incredible hand-eye coordination, so you can guess how rapid his transitions into shooting positions are. Khusnutdinov owns one heck of a shot, not only for the release but also for his accuracy. The puck can explode off his stick and he is consistent in getting shots off through screens or when blanketed by a defender. Khusnutdinov is an expert on the backhand and he can make plays with regularity. He’s even shown accuracy with the cross-body backhanders and can roof the puck from in close.

One thing that deserves mention is Khusnutdinov’s role on a powerful team like SKA-1946. He was essentially the team’s third-line center yet he produced scoring chances with such frequency you’d think he played 20-22 minutes a night. Additionally, Khusnutdinov was used as a backup penalty killer and he has won over 60 percent of his draws. Developing quick chemistry as a center with new linemates and being low maintenance are two qualities that any NHL team would want in their prospects. At the under-18 level, Khusnutdinov spent time with several highly-skilled wingers such as Daniil Guschin and Alexander Pashin, but he’s also made threats out of the physical types like Ilya Rychkov and Ivan Didkovskiy.

Torching the stat sheet in Russia’s MHL, which in terms of goals scored is the stingiest among all premier junior leagues, is something you rarely see from a first-year draft eligible. But Khusnutdinov not only lit up opposing defense with his production, but he did so while operating in a limited role. In fact, his points-per-60 minutes average at even strength (3.14) led all MHL players who played under 15 minutes a game.