Marat Khusnutdinov Should Use the Summer To Explore Minnesota
Toward the end of the Minnesota Wild 2023-24 season, when it was somewhat apparent that there would be no postseason, but everyone was still putting hope in the mathematical odds, one bright light shone through. Marat Khusnutdinov was finally making his way to North America.
Many fans had been watching Khusnutdinov from afar while he was playing in the KHL. He was physically tough, could take faceoffs, and score goals. It seemed like a dream, considering the
challenges the team has been through with the salary cap hell. All eyes were on his team, which didn’t make the KHL playoffs. We all sat on the edge of our seats, collectively holding our breath until the news came out that he had been released from his contract and was on his way to America.
After all that waiting, how fans reacted when Khusnutdinov played his first game in Minnesota makes sense. I was there and can attest to how fun it was to cheer for anything and everything he did, no matter how silly it was. His first shift? Cheer as he comes over the boards. Winning his first faceoff? Cheer as loud as possible for a center who may actually be a dependable faceoff guy. (Other than Joel Eriksson Ek, but he’s on his own level.)
It stands to reason that Minnesota has fallen in love with their new baby Russian, especially when everyone found out that he could speak some English. It only got better when he let it be known that he was funny!
With relations between America and Russia where they (still) are, there is an assumption that Khusnutdinov may be staying in Minnesota for at least part of the summer. It would be an amazing chance to get the young Russian to feel more at home in the state that has already welcomed him with open arms.
Last summer, many Wild players stayed back in the Twin Cities and had a great time. They were seen all over the place having fun. If that happens again this summer, Khusnutdinov has a group with Brock Faber at the helm to introduce him to the Twin Cities scene. With so many players, it’s important to get them to fall in love with Minnesota. Other teams have advantages like year-round summer weather, large cities, or storied histories like the Original Six. But the State of Hockey has the hockey vibes all year round and other fun to boot.
