Seventh Round (#195 Overall): Maxim Chudinov
Another 30 picks pass and the Boston Bruins are back up on the draft board. This time they selected KHL defenseman, Maxim Chudinov. Here’s what Hockey’s Future had to say about the Russian blueliner:
“Chudinov is a hard-nosed, puck-moving defenseman. Short but stocky and powerful, he relishes the physical game and uses his low center of gravity to his advantage similar to former NHL’er and fellow Russian Darius Kasparitis. He is an excellent skater and has both mobility and speed which he uses to compensate for his lack of height and wingspan. He has some real offense to his game as well, making smart decisions on the breakout, joining the rush and supporting the attack, and has a knack for slipping coverage and getting open around the tops of circles. He’s been a leader for his KHL team in terms of points and ice time.”
In his draft year with the KHL’s Cherepovets Severstal, Chudinov put up 6 goals and 7 assists for 13 points in 47 games. Unfortunately for the Boston Bruins, Chudinov never left his native-Russia. He played 2 more seasons with Cherepovets, 6 with St. Petersburg SKA and has played 2 seasons with Omsk Avangard and continues playing with them today.
From 2010-2012 with Cherepovets, Chudinov played 104 games with 17 goals and 41 assists for 58 points. From 2012-2018, he played 260 games with St. Petersburg, recording 26 goals and 53 assists for 79 points. Then, from 2018 to today, Chudinov has posted 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points in 90 games for Omsk.
Based on Chudinov’s stats in the KHL, it’s very upsetting that he never made the trip overseas.
Though he didn’t flash with a ton of points, he did enough in the second-toughest league behind the NHL to be, at the very least, a bottom-four defender. He also did enough in the defensive end to find success as a two-way defender. Missed opportunity for both the player and the team.