The Vancouver Canucks are set to face the Edmonton Oilers on Monday evening in their fifth game of a six-game preseason slate.

With opening night just over a week away, many expected a more veteran-laden lineup to form chemistry and test out potential line combinations. Instead, the team has opted for a relatively youthful group, chalked with several prospects either pushing for spots or looking to make one final lasting impression on the coaching staff for the not-so-distant future.

Among that list is 20-year-old defenceman Kirill Kudryavtsev, who will make his second pre-season appearance. With Vilmer Alriksson already reassigned to the Guelph Storm and Ty Young sent to Abbotsford, the Russian defender remains the final player within the pre-season roster to have played junior hockey last season.

Kudryavtsev is expected to be paired with Vincent Desharnais on the second defensive pairing, likely seeing similar ice time to the 17:37 he logged in his debut against the Seattle Kraken. While he didn’t contribute offensively in that game, his defensive prowess stood out, and he didn’t look out of place against a relatively veteran Seattle Kraken roster.

True to form, Kudryavtsev broke up several offensive chances with his constant active stick and showcased his calm approach to the game from the back end. Thanks to his heads-up transitional game, he made several clean passes and rarely missed in his breakout attempts, if ever. Was it an earth-shattering performance? Not necessarily. But for a young defender getting his first reps, a night where you don’t stand out negatively and make a few solid plays is all that is asked.

Though it would be a monumental shock for Kudryavtsev to make the Vancouver NHL roster out of camp, another pre-season match is the perfect way to showcase his ability before setting off to fight for a spot on the Abbotsford Canucks down the road.

Now in his third training camp with the organization, his fate regarding where he’ll play in the 2024-25 campaign feels very much in the air. Is his game ready for AHL deployment out the gate? Will he drop to Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL) to develop among the third-tier pro circuit? Or would return as an overager for one last crack at a Memorial Cup?

While most believe he’s AHL-bound, the competition is relatively stiff. In Abbotsford, Kudryavtsev will be battling for ice time against a crowded group of left-shot defencemen that includes Christian Wolanin, Elias Pettersson, Akito Hirose, Guillaume Brisebois, Joseph Arntsen, and Layton Ahac.

While all that remains a mystery, he’s done everything in his power to prove his worth over the last two weeks.

Starting with the Young Stars Classic Penticton, Kudryavtsev was considered one of the top defencemen in the four-team tournament. Often paired with Elias Pettersson (D-Petey), he upped his value even further by seamlessly sliding to the right side, where his typical shutdown ability and crisp stretch passes translated like it was common practice for him to be on the right side.

From there, his three-game performance earned him a place in Group A during the Canucks’ main training camp, where he was paired with veteran Tyler Myers. It was here where Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet took notice of Kudryavtsev’s efforts during camp, praising the young rearguard.

“I actually don’t mind watching him out there,” Tocchet mentioned after day two of camp. “I think he’s going to push that Abbotsford defence.”

For a player selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Kudryavtsev’s journey has been a strong testament to the work he’s put into his game. Not only has he brought consistently high offensive numbers during his three-year junior career – 136 points across 202 OHL games – but he also managed to improve his plus/minus from minus-15 in 2022-23 to a plus-29 in 2023–24 thanks to a hyper-focus on the two-way elements of his game.

Regardless of where his ultimate landing spot ends up this season, his strong performance and upward development are a breath of fresh air within an organization with a shaky past in the player development category. The work is far from over, but a strong 2024 fall has risen his stock to new levels, with pro hockey within reach.