Marat Khusnutdinov has become a fan favorite since the Boston Bruins added him at the 2025 trade deadline. Looking back, adding the two-way forward, along with Jakub Lauko and a sixth-round pick, for a Justin Brazeau rental could prove to be one of Don Sweeney's savviest moves one day, which is saying something.
Khusnutdinov played on the team's fourth line for the remainder of the 2024-25 season, found a home alongside Fraser Minten during the 2025-26 season, mostly in a third-line role, and is now in the Bruins' top six, still hitching his wagon to the young center. And on Wednesday, signed a team-friendly three-year, $3.95 million annual contract extension.
With the way Khusnutdinov plays and carries himself on the ice, it is sometimes impossible not to see similarities to former captain Brad Marchand, and the pairing of him and the two-way center Minten looks a lot like something fans have seen before. Now, with both signed for at least the next three seasons, Bruins fans will get to see the pairing grow together and become key members of the team's young core.
The Bruins are paying Khusnutdinov not only for his production over the past season and a half, but for the player they believe he will become over the next three years. After going from a fourth-liner to a productive second-liner in his short time in Boston, the Russian winger's ceiling may be sky-high.
Marat Khusnutdinov’s contract compared to his value
Even if it doesn't reach "sky-high," paying him less than $4 million annually, with salaries climbing higher than ever, almost guarantees the Bruins won't regret this deal. Is it the best deal in the league right now? Not yet, but if Khusnutdinov becomes a 50- or 60-point player over the course of the contract, it will be exceptional value.
At his worst, Khusnutdinov is a solid, third-line, two-way forward and above-average penalty killer. If he continues this season's form, he can stay in the top six to be an exceptional energy winger and forechecker who complements skilled players well. Either way, with the changing landscape, he will be worth much more than $3.95 million.
You only have to look at the comparables to Khusnutdinov's deal to see that the Bruins are coming out on the good side. Trent Frederic ($3.85 million), AJ Greer ($4.25 million), and Frank Vatrano ($4.5 million) are all former Bruins who will make more than Khusnutdinov during his contract. Boston fans would likely agree on who they would take from that group of four players.
You can even look at current Bruins like Casey Mittelstadt ($5.75 million), as someone whom Khusnutdinov has already passed on the depth chart. Salaries are supposed to be rising, but the front office found a way to sign Mittelstadt's replacement for nearly $2 million less for the next three seasons. That is great cap management.
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