By: Kenny Kaminsky | Follow me on Twitter/X @KennyKaminsky
A trade that initially went unnoticed may turn out to be one of the best of the season. Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney made a late-night decision to trade Justin Brazeau to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Marat Khusnutdinov, Jakub Lauko, and a sixth-round selection in the 2026 draft. Since then, Khusnutdinov has recorded double the points of Brazeau and has become one of the most exciting players to watch each night.
When Khusnutdinov was traded to the Bruins, fans had no idea what to expect. The 2020 37th overall pick by the Wild had been playing in Russia for several years and had just recently joined Minnesota. Statistically, I understand the skepticism. In the previous season in the Kontinental Hockey League, he recorded just 6-14-20 points in 55 games. He played alongside Matvei Michkov, the 2023 7th overall pick, who had a dominant season with HC Sochi.
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The 5-foot-9 forward played limited minutes on the fourth line this season with the Wild, managing only 2-5-7 points in 57 games. Don Sweeney mentioned that his scouts focused on undervalued players who deserved more playing time, which makes complete sense. Having a smaller, less physical player on the fourth line wasn’t an ideal choice. Most nights, Khusnutdinov was paired with two teammates who couldn’t match his speed and lacked the skill to compensate. Since joining the Bruins, the native of Moskva, Russia, has played every game in the top nine and most in the top six, allowing him to play with more skilled players and earn more minutes.
Since joining the Boston Bruins, we have seen a player eager to make an impact and earn more playing time. Since being traded, Khusnutdinov has scored two goals and one assist in his first 12 games with the team. While that may not seem impressive at first glance, it becomes much more significant when you consider the retooling of the Bruins team around him. However, what stands out about him doesn’t appear on the scoresheet. His incredible speed has been refreshing for many Boston fans. Transitioning from a slower player like Justin Brazeau to someone with outstanding speed represents a shift in style from what Don Sweeney typically looks for in Bruins players.
What has caught my attention is how Khusnutdinov has been gradually adapting to the Boston Bruins’ style of play. In his 57 games with Minnesota, the former second-round draft pick recorded just 37 hits. However, in his first eight games with the Bruins, he had already registered 11 hits. After being traded to Boston, Marat was briefly sent down during the trade deadline to ensure his eligibility for the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs. Since then, he has performed so well that the team decided to use up all of his waiver-exempt games, keeping him on the roster and making it less likely that he will be sent down.
Marat Khusnutdinov has made an impressive effort, winning over the organization and quickly becoming a fan favorite. At the end of this season, he will become a restricted free agent, and fans believe he deserves a contract for the foreseeable future. Khusnutdinov continues to be a standout player in the struggling Bruins lineup.
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