"Despite breaking camp in the NHL ranks this fall, the 23-year-old forward found himself riding on the carousel of fourth-line wingers on Boston's depth chart to open the 2025-26 campaign. Entering Tuesday's home game against the Islanders, Khusnutdinov had appeared in just six of Boston's first 11 games of the season. The 2020 second-round pick's crafty puck play and crisp edge work painted the picture of an NHL forward with legitimate middle-six upside."
"Not just because of his high upside, but because of how the skilled forward handled an uneven start to a new season. "It's hard to scratch those kinds of players because they almost didn't do anything wrong, you know. But he's such a good kid," Sturm said during morning skate at Warrior Ice Arena. "He, even when he was scratched, he was working really hard, really hard. Never complains, and he just waited for his opportunity.""
Marat Khusnutdinov, a 23-year-old 2020 second-round pick, began the season on Boston's fourth line and appeared in six of the first 11 games. His crafty puck play and crisp edge work suggested middle-six upside, but he initially could not crack a higher role. Coach Marco Sturm elevated Khusnutdinov to the top line with David Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm after a strong appearance against the Islanders. Khusnutdinov maintained a strong attitude while scratched, worked relentlessly in practice, and rewarded the team with an overtime game-winning goal in a 4-3 win over Buffalo.
Read at Boston.com
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