Wild draft Marat Khusnutdinov with 37th overall pick
The Minnesota Wild drafted forward Marat Khusnutdinov with the 37th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
Marat Khusnutdinov
Position: C
Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 165 lbs
Age: 18
Club: SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)
Nationality: Russia
| GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 13 | 25 | 38 |
(Stats source: Elitprospects.com)
Khusnutdinov is undersized for a center, but he's a dynamic offensive producer with lots of upside. The 18-year-old spent his draft year in the Russian junior league, but he's tasted the professional ranks in the KHL briefly since the 2020-21 season began. Khusnutdinov has logged plenty of international experience while representing his home country, and he captained Russia at the most recent Hlinka Gretzky Cup, notching three assists in five games.
What they're saying
"An impactful, all-around center. Excellent play-driver who already boasts strong defensive ability. Plenty of runway ahead of him," Cam Robinson of Dobber Hockey wrote in April.
"Marat Khusnutdinov may be the player who is the most fun to watch. He has an insane level of creativity and plays without fear. He uses his body to obtain body position so that he can take advantage of his excellent hands," added Tony Ferrari, also of Dobber.