Khusnutdinov’s Quiet Rise Gives Minnesota a Real Lineup Fix

Marat Khusnutdinov is no longer just a name on a depth chart - he is forcing his way into a more regular NHL role. This season rewind looks at how he earned that consistency and why coaches keep finding reasons to trust him. For a young player, that kind of traction matters because one good stretch gets you noticed, but staying in the lineup gets you paid. The story tracks how he went from maybe to meaningful, which is the toughest jump in this league.