Marat Khusnutdinov comes in at number nine on our writers’ ranking of the Minnesota Wild youth, but could probably have climbed even higher if the writers were to vote again today. Since the start of the KHL season, Khusnutdinov has a goal and three assists in five games, earning Rookie of the Week honors.
Playing center for the competitive KHL team SKA St. Petersburg, Khusnutdinov is known for using his speed and high motor to create a relentlessly effective two-way game. He often circles back during controlled breakouts to support his defensemen, then uses his blistering acceleration to carry both blue lines with speed.