By: Tom Calautti | Follow me on Twitter/X @TCalauttis
The Boston Bruins have locked up yet another member of their growing young core. Emily Kaplan of ESPN has reported that the Black and gold have signed speedy winger Marat Khusnutdinov to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3.95 million. News of an extension was first report yesterday afternoon by Kevin Weekes of NHL Network.
Khusnutdinov joined the Bruins at the infamous 2024 trade deadline when General Manager Don Sweeney shipped hulking power forward Justin Brazeau and a fifth-round pick to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Khusnutdinov, Jakub Lauko, and a sixth round pick. The Russian forward played the rest of that season with the Boston Bruins, posting 3-2-5 across 18 games.
Khusnutdinov’s breakout season came in 2025-26 where he posted career-highs across the board in goals (15), assists (18), and points (33) across 77 games. The 2020 second-round pick won the hearts of Bruins fans early on with his rugged forecheck and dogged determination, and earned the trust of his coaches, spending parts of last season along the top line with David Pastrnak.
Khusnutdinov is off to a solid start this season, posting 3-2-5 through ten games while skating in a middle-six role and acting as one of the team’s top penalty killers. He played his best hockey of the season on the team’s most recent four game roadt trip, where he scored the game-winner against the LA Kings and registered 1-2-3 in those games.
The 24-year-old is the latest in a slew of young players Boston’s management group has made an effort to lock up for the future. They signed rookie James Hagens to an entry-level contract last spring, traded for speedy winger JJ Peterka at the draft, and locked up two-way pivot Fraser Minten ahead of training camp.
By signing this contract, Khusntdinov will avoid restricted free agency this summer and won’t be eligible to receive an offer sheet. Looks like he’s made a home in Boston.
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