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  • Marat Khusnutdinov Has What It Takes To Be A Top Center


    Image courtesy of Photo credit: xmarat22 on Instagram
    Kalisha Turnipseed

     

    The Minnesota Wild need more prospects to improve their consistency and special teams, which would allow them to play at their best for a full 60 minutes. That’s where Khusnutdinov comes in. In late December, The Athletic’s Michael Russo reported that Khusnutdinov will be coming to play in North America in 2024-25. So, let’s look at what we can expect from him.

    Marco Rossi and Joel Eriksson Ek will be Minnesota’s top two centers, relieving the pressure on Khusnutdinov. He doesn’t have to be a savior upon arriving in St. Paul. However, Khusnutdinov has the ingredients to improve the team’s scoring depth and special teams. 

    Khusnutdinov should immediately play third-line minutes with a mix of Ryan Hartman, Freddy Gaudreau, Marcus Johansson, and Marcus Foligno. If the Wild extend Connor Dewar (RFA) and Brandon Duhaime (UFA), expect Khusnutdinov to also get minutes with them. 

    Recently, we’ve learned that the Wild lack depth scoring when injuries occur. Khusnutdinov had a down year in the KHL, but experts still project him to become a top-six contributor thanks to his unique blend of speed and skill. Even in a down season, Khusnutdinov has shown his potential as a high-end assist machine. Remind you of anyone? Khusnutdiov is like Mats Zuccarello, but he’s a center. 

    Khusnutdinov is producing similar assist numbers to Vladimir Tarasenko, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Kirill Kaprizov, Artemi Panarin, and Pavel Buchnevich in the KHL, which shows that he deserves the lofty Zuccarello comparison. However, Khusnutdinov is not a perimeter. He has an Eriksson Ek-level grittiness that will make him more valuable to the Wild. 

    The Wild will likely give Khusnutdinov the responsibility of quarterbacking the second power-play unit and play penalty-killing minutes. Ideally, Eriksson Ek should be a valuable mentor for Khusnutdinov, helping him become a penalty-killing force. Khusnutdinov should be able to replace Dewar or Duhaime on the penalty kill if Guerin chooses not to extend them. 

    Minnesota should play Khusnutdinov with a goal-scorer on the power play because he’s not a sniper. The Wild should have a shooting presence on both power-play units. Using Rossi, Zuccarello, and Kaprizov as the snipers should make for an elite powerplay trio with Hartman as the net-front presence. Brock Faber takes over as the defenseman. 

    Khusnutdinov partners with Matt Boldy, Johansson, and Eriksson Ek on the next unit to create a lethal threat. Eriksson Ek and Boldy are going to switch roles. Boldy gets to play like Eriksson Ek as the net-front presence, allowing him to also be lethal from behind the net. Eriksson Ek will be set up in the slot, with Khusnutdinov and Johansson making plays and zone entries. 

    Khusnutdinov's transition to North America will present opportunities and challenges. Similar to Kaprizov, he will need time to adjust to speaking English. Adapting to the smaller ice rink will also be a significant adjustment. However, much like Faber, he seems prepared and eager to take on these challenges. Khusnutdinov has a resilient mindset that suits his success in his new environment. 

    Having Kaprizov as a mentor will ease Khusnutdinov's transition to North America. From his own experiences as a rookie transitioning to the NHL from Russia, Kaprizov can provide Khusnutdinov with valuable guidance. Offering comfort and confidence. That should build a bond and set the stage for a new and meaningful friendship based on shared experiences. 

    The potential for Khusnutdinov and Kaprizov to play together during line juggling is intriguing. Much like the chemistry displayed by Kaprizov and Zuccarello, it's evident that the dynamic between Kaprizov and Khusnutdinov holds similar promise. While acknowledging Rossi's abilities, it would be hard to split Kaprizov and Kusnutdinov if line adjustments result in them reaching another level together. 

    Kaprizov and Khusnutdinov's chemistry could improve the team's performance and create an exciting prospect for fans and the coaching staff. The NHL will witness a new adoring friendship. Danila Yurov has yet to arrive, but the potential trio sounds exciting. 

    Yurov's delayed arrival to the NHL alongside Khusnutdinov may disappoint some fans. But Khusnutdinov's arrival offers a good distraction when he can showcase his all-around skill. 

    Khusnutdinov's arrival will bring a bright future, proving his qualifications for a spot on a high-caliber roster. Despite the challenges he is bound to face, Khusnutdinov's presence will offer the Wild a consistent chance to triumph every night. His passion for the game and his ability to let his effort speak for itself. 

    In many ways, Khusnutdinov embodies the qualities that Luke Kunin couldn't fully deliver for the Wild. Khusnutdinov presents genuine first-round skill combined with unwavering grit. As he emerges, Khusnutdinov is poised to arrive and firmly establish himself. He should become a mainstay for the franchise, marking the beginning of an exciting new era. 

     

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    The emergence of Rossi as a scorer eases the need for Khus to "need" to be that guy.  However, I'm all for another guy coming in and storming through the gates.  If he does, amazing.  If he takes awhile, that's fine too.  The Wild need replacements in many areas, and if he's half as good as Rossi and Faber turned out to be, the Wild just solved a scoring problem.

    Edited by Citizen Strife
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    Of course my main concern is going to be his weight/strength. However, his play in the K would suggest that we do not have up to date measurables for him. Speed can't be taught, and if he can wriggle free and turn on the jets, that could be exactly what we need. 

    I certainly hope there are some players who can keep up with him. I'd hate to have him off to the races and have to circle the net while others come rolling through. Players in the K are big and strong, and he's been successful in that league. I have no doubt he will transition well in the N. 

    We've been waiting for a long time, but just as a reminder, let's say we hit on him, Rossi and Hunt would make 3 players from the 2020 draft class. I don't even think that the 2020 class was the best one we've drafted. To me, 2022 was the best one we've had. 

    Just to review a little: 2 more seasons of Zuccarello, 1 more season of Johansson (who has a full NTC meaning, he can head to Iowa), 3 more seasons of Hartman. On D, we could see 3 slots open up if Merrill heads to Iowa. I don't know if Lambos will be ready by next season, I think that was the hope. It certainly looks like Peart won't be, he's having a terrible year and I think he's hurt. Honestly, this is an important offseason for O'Rourke. He's got to have a Rossi type of offseason, and if it doesn't happen this year, he's probably an A player going forward. 

     

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    Rossi looked like he was a member of the lollipop guild against Dallas’s big D.  I hope khuz has grown taller AND wider since the picture I saw during his draft year.   Stramel and Rasmu can’t come soon enough

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    First off Dallas is a damn good ice hockey team
    Second, the wild looked like the gutless, heartless post lemaire years.  Shortage of heart and skill tonight.  Really hard to watch tonight.  Heard a smattering of boos after the buzzer.  OCL getting nervous. 
    Third, couple bright spots were hunt and Raska. I haven’t seen Raska play much, but what I’ve seen I’ve like so I’d like him to get more TOI The young man’s got a lot of jam to his game.  This bunch is more than a 97 and 46 away from being playoff relevant

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    Another smurf.  Sits at -6 with one goal in his past 10 games.  Rossi bulked up but could not compete against the Dallas big guys.   The little Russian is 21 and not a driver of offense in an inferior league, not a patty-cake league, but AHL level.  

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    Marat Khusnutdinov Has What It Takes To Be A Top Center

    What is this "Top Center" I am hearing about? (Did I pronounce it correctly?) I see other teams with them but I thought the Wild dismissed it as a fad 20 years ago. 😳

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    Just in case anyone was wondering, Sochi (Dino's team) is currently in last place in their division. When they traded for Dino they were in the hunt but have fallen on hard times. Good news is he might even be able to fit in a couple of games with the Wild this season (after the K regular season is complete). It burns a year of ELC, but, it gets him over here for sure.

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    21 hours ago, FredJohnson said:

    Marat Khusnutdinov Has What It Takes To Be A Top Center

    What is this "Top Center" I am hearing about? (Did I pronounce it correctly?) I see other teams with them but I thought the Wild dismissed it as a fad 20 years ago. 😳

    That's that mythical thing that gets paid $8-11m per season to score tons of points and take the lion's share of attention when a team either does or doesn't do well.  There was a guy named Eric Staal who presumably was that guy for like a season on a super cheap contract, making the rest of the team look stupid by comparison...but maybe it was a mirage.  Some guy they traded for called Hanzal ended up being the REAL 1C.

    At least that's what I think happened.  I blocked that half season out of my mind.

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    5 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

    That's that mythical thing that gets paid $8-11m per season to score tons of points and take the lion's share of attention when a team either does or doesn't do well.  There was a guy named Eric Staal who presumably was that guy for like a season on a super cheap contract, making the rest of the team look stupid by comparison...but maybe it was a mirage.  Some guy they traded for called Hanzal ended up being the REAL 1C.

    At the end of the buyout years, we've got 4 things that must be figured out:

    1. Pay Kaprizov again, should be somewhere around an extra $3.xxm
    2. Pay Rossi, assuming he continues to improve
    3. Pay Faber
    4. Pay The Wall, Goose2 might also be up for a raise?

    Salary cap will be higher, and we'll have a lot of money to play with. Not every team will be so cap friendly. If I were a UFA coming into that season or a season away, I'd be looking hard at this franchise because they could pay me. If we luck out in this draft and find someone in the Mo Seider class, that would leave room for one splash at center. 

    Where oh where could we find one of those guys? It might require a deal similar to the Fiala deal, where we give up a 1st and top prospect?

    Edited by mnfaninnc
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