By: Andrew Patten | Follow me on Twitter / X @a_patten11
Coming into the 2025-26 season, not much was expected of the Boston Bruins. The team was in the early stages of a retool, trying to rebuild their culture and develop a style of play that would get them into the playoffs consistently. While the team would have to lean on veterans like David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy to help establish that, Boston would also need contributions from some of their younger, newer players. That’s exactly what they’ve gotten.
Solid play from forwards Fraser Minten, Marat Khusnutdinov, Mark Kastelic, and defenseman Jonathan Aspirot has helped the Bruins achieve a winning record. Boston has posted 86 points in the standings and find themselves right in the thick of a tight playoff race. As a result, those four players have earned one of the highest honors a member of the team can receive.
Back on February 25th, NESN unveiled the four nominees for the 7th Player Awardāan honor given annually since 1969 to the Bruins player who most exceeds fan expectations with selfless, hardworking play for the team’s benefit. The award recognizes the unsung hero whose contributions may otherwise go unnoticed. All four of them fit that profile. Each player has a strong case to win the award, but perhaps none more than Marat Khusnutdinov.
After being acquired from the Minnesota Wild in a deal for forward Justin Brazeau on March 6th, 2025, Khusnutdinov was inserted right into the lineup, skating in the final 18 games of the 2024-25 season. He showed flashes of his offensive potential that made him a second-round pick. He scored three goals and added two assists, while getting regular ice time under interim head coach Joe Sacco. That was good enough to earn him a two-year extension during this past off-season. Despite that, he still needed to earn a spot on the Bruins after General Manager Don Sweeney spent most of July 1st adding depth pieces to the roster.
Coming into training camp, Khusnutdinov found himself in a battle with players like Matt Poitras, Fabian Lysell, and Matej Blumel for a spot on the Bruins’ opening night roster. He beat them out and, in doing so, caught the eye of his new head coach, Marco Sturm.
But it wasn’t smooth sailing at the start of the regular season. He struggled in his first five games, where he posted just one assist while rotating in and out of the lineup. On October 30th, Khusnutdinov provided some heroics for the Bruins, scoring the game-winning goal, also his first of the season, in an overtime defeat of the Buffalo Sabres.
Since that night, he’s carved out a role for Sturmās squad by showing the ability to move up and down the lineup. In recent games, Khusnutdinov has found himself on the first line skating with Fraser Minten and David Pastrnak. He’s become a staple on the penalty kill by improving his 200-foot game, while also showing his versatility by playing both center and wing. Khusnutdinov’s development this season hasn’t gone unnoticed by his head coach.
The most notable highlight of Khusnutdinovās 2025-26 season came on January 10th, when he scored four goals against the New York Rangers in a 10-2 rout at TD Garden. He became the first Bruin to score four goals in a single game since Patrice Bergeron back during the 2021-22 season.
Fans and teammates alike have quickly embraced Khusnutdinov for his youthful personality and blue-collar mentality. Totaling thirty points so far, his first full season with the Bruins has been nothing short of successful. Considering his performance, his nomination for the Seventh Player Award is more than well deserved, and he could find himself as the winner for the 2025-26 season.
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