FN’s mid-season Flames prospect updates: Yan Kuznetsov

Drafted in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft, Yan Kuznetsov spent his first five professional seasons as a reliable 200-foot defenceman in the Calgary Flames’ farm system. He made steady progress each year, including a 38-point campaign a season ago, but his path to the NHL still wasn’t very clear.

Coming into the season, the Flames’ depth chart of young defencemen looking to earn a spot in the NHL included the likes of Zayne Parekh, Hunter Brzustewicz, Ilya Solovyov, Jeremie Poirier and, of course, Kuznetsov himself. With Kuznetsov likely in the third or fourth spot on that list, it appeared it might be another year in the AHL.

The first opportunity opened up when Solovyov was claimed off waivers during the pre-season. This immediately moved Kuznetsov closer to the front of the line for a potential call-up, but he still had to begin the year in the AHL. In 10 AHL games this season, he recorded two goals and was a plus-five.

Then the real opportunity arrived. Zayne Parekh struggled to begin his career as a full-time NHLer and was eventually sidelined with an injury that kept him out until the World Junior Championship. With those struggles, and the team’s struggles as a whole, the Flames decided to use an open roster spot and call up Kuznetsov at the beginning of November.

Kuznetsov had previously been called up twice before in his career. The first time, two years ago, saw him appear in just one NHL game, while last season’s call-up was more for injury insurance, as he did not see any game action. This year’s call-up was different — this was an opportunity to play and show he belonged in the NHL.

Slotting in alongside MacKenzie Weegar, the pair found immediate chemistry, forming a defensive pairing that hasn’t changed since they were put together. Kuznetsov continued what he had done in the AHL, playing well in the offensive zone and remaining reliable defensively. While it has tapered off slightly in recent weeks, Weegar has played some of his best hockey of the season alongside Kuznetsov, who has become his first consistent defensive partner in some time.

Kuznetsov picked up his first NHL point in his very first game this season, recording an assist on an Adam Klapka goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was around the net consistently over his first several games, and it felt like his first goal was only a matter of time. It finally came at the end of November against the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers — a wicked wrist shot from the top of the zone that fooled Sergei Bobrovsky.