Kudryavtsev completed an admiral rookie campaign for the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL. He potted five goals and added 21 assists for 26 points in 65 games. He earned a two-game call-up to the NHL, but provided no offence. He featured in a minor role on the Abbotsford power play, scoring eight points with the man advantage, and fired just over a shot on net per game. Kudryavtsev is likely to serve in the AHL role again to start the 2025-2026 campaign, but he is likely to get a few more sniffs of NHL ice as the year goes by. He is worth a speculative stash in multi-cat leagues with enough depth. Alex Wyatt

Kudryavtsev’s first professional season is off to a good start. After finishing 2023-24 with the Greyhounds, he signed his entry-level contract with the Canucks, bringing him to Abbotsford for 2024-25. So far, he has been Abbotsford’s better defenseman. Kudryavtsev is up to 12 points, the most among Abbotsford defensemen. He is also anchoring the team’s power play. Additionally, he has shown the ability to play both the right and left sides, with his game staying consistent on both. Kudryavtsev is looking to keep playing at a high level for the remainder of the year.

Much like last season, Kudryavtsev had another solid campaign. The defenseman finished with 47 points in 67 games, ranking 16th among all defensemen in the OHL. Currently, Kudryavtsev is competing in the playoffs with the Greyhounds, where he has performed exceptionally well, tallying seven points in just eight games. Considering he was a seventh-round pick, it’s safe to say that the Canucks should be pleased with their selection.

Kudryavtsev has caught the attention of the Canucks, leading to an official Entry-Level deal. He is currently enjoying a career season with the Soo Greyhounds’, surpassing his 2020-21 totals (5G +34A) with plenty of games in hand. He has emerged as the Hounds’ top puck mover on the backend and ranks among the top-15 leaguewide in points by a defender (6G + 40A). Despite the signing, fantasy investors should not anticipate immediate returns as Kudryavtsev is expected to return to the Soo for his third year in 2023-24, where he’ll continue to develop his game as a number-one quarterback. Being a late-round draftee, there is still a long way to go before he dons an NHL jersey. Nevertheless, much like they have done with previous seventh-round projects, the Canucks seem to recognize his potential as a two-way presence down the road.

Kudryavtsev was drafted in the seventh round (201st overall) by the Vancouver Canucks. The left-shot rearguard made the trip across the pond for the 2021-22 campaign, suiting up for the Soo Greyhounds. His transition to the small ice was rather seamless, earning immediate top-four minutes and making his presence felt on the scoresheet. With 39 points (5-34-39), the Russian defender finished third among rookie defenders league-wide. He is a player who brings pinches of everything and can be more than competent at both ends of the ice. His game lacks consistency, and there are tendencies to take his foot off the gas. However, when he’s on, he is a competitor and a dual threat on the ice. As a seventh-round pick, his path to the top offers an extended timeline. However, despite falling at the draft table, he projects quite high and carries interesting NHL upside.