Canucks prospects: Underrated Kirill Kudryavtsev is ready for pro hockey

The Vancouver Canucks haven’t had any real success beyond the seventh round in over 40 years.

You have to go back to 1980 for the last seventh-round pick to really make an impact on the Canucks after drafting him. That’s when they selected Doug Lidster, who would go on to become the team’s best defenseman for nearly a decade in the late ’80s and early ’90s.

42 years later, the Canucks may have found another seventh-round defenseman gem.

The Canucks drafted Kirill Kudryavtsev in the seventh round of the 2022 NHL Draft after the Russian defenceman came to Canada to play in the OHL. Considered a pure offensive defenceman upon entering the league, Kudryatsev instead demonstrated an intelligent, all-around game that allowed him to play in all situations for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

“He has become one of the best defensive defenders in the league.”

Thanks to a strong post-draft year in 2022-23, Kudryavtsev was the Canucks’ first 2022 draft pick to sign an entry-level contract, ahead of higher picks Jonathan Lekkerimäki and Elias Pettersson.

Kudryavtsev had 50 points in 67 games that season, good for 14th among OHL defensemen. Some expected him to become one of the OHL’s top scoring defensemen in 2023-24, if not a contender for the league’s top scorer.

Instead, Kudryavtsev’s offense took a small step backwards, going from 50 points to 47. But, according to Kudryavtsev himself, it was an intentional step backwards.

“I felt like we had a solid offensive team, so I decided to stay more in my game and be a versatile defenceman,” Kudryavtsev told the Canucks’ Chris Faber. “I still got my points on the power play. I knew I was going to get them, but I wasn’t really trying to rush and force the puck.”

“I’ve been focusing on trying to take less risks and play more for the team, because it was a real shame last year when we tried too hard and didn’t even make the playoffs.”

Kudryavtsev’s defensive focus has paid off, both in getting the Greyhounds to the playoffs and within a Western Conference championship game, and in improving defensively to the point where it’s now the real strength of his game.

“He’s become one of the best defensive defensemen in the league, eliminating threats without the puck, winning battles and killing attacks against him,” said Mitch Brown of EP Rinkside. “While he may not have the obvious physicality of NHL defensive defensemen, he’s a tough player who consistently gains positioning and makes quick plays out of the zone under pressure.”

While plus/minus isn’t always the best indication of a player’s defensive ability, Kudryavtsev’s jump from minus-15 last season to plus-29 this season is eye-catching.

“I didn’t really care about points this season. Maybe last season I cared more because I had to sign the contract,” Kudryavtsev told The Hockey News’ Adam Kierszenblat. “This season I just cared about being in the OHL, so I’m playing more defensively, more structured, more aggressive, all that. That’s why my plus/minus this season is a completely different story.”

“I need to continue working on certain skills to be able to move to the next level”

Kudryavtsev’s commitment to defense over spectacular offensive numbers has earned him plaudits throughout the OHL. In the annual OHL Coaches’ Poll, Kudryavtsev was voted the most underrated player in the OHL Western Conference.

In fact, with his late-round selection and underrated point total, Kudryavtsev is also arguably the most underrated prospect in the Canucks’ system.

But Kudryavtsev’s defensive focus doesn’t mean he can’t score points. He’s a smart activator from the point and knows when to join the rush to provide an extra layer of offense. He’s also a great distributor from the point as a power-play quarterback and also has a decent shot, though he hasn’t used it as much this season.

What’s striking about watching Kudryavtsev is the depth of his deceptive game. On puck recoveries, he always adds a fake or two to deceive a forechecker, giving him a few extra steps to move the puck. When he gets the puck out, he looks away from his target, moving his sticks out of the passing lanes while his opponents follow his gaze.

Those moments of disappointment are essential in the NHL and may be the best indicator of his future with the Canucks. Combined with a smart, smothering game, Kudryavtsev could be another example of a seventh-round success story like Doug Lidster.

For now, Kudryavtsev has his sights set on a more modest goal: playing for the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks rather than returning to the OHL for his older player season.

“I have to continue to work on some skills so I can take it to the next level,” Kudryavtsev told Faber. “I’m hoping to play in the AHL next season. I’ll have to put on a little more weight and become a man, continue to work on my strengths and the things I do well, but be ready to do them at the next level. I’m working really hard on everything this summer.”

“My biggest goal is just to make the AHL. Well, my biggest goal is to make the NHL. That’s everybody’s goal, but you never know what’s going to happen. I try not to look ahead and think, ‘I want to be paired with Quinn Hughes next season.’ Obviously, that would be pretty cool, but I just focus on taking small steps.”