Welcome back to CanucksArmy’s top 20 Vancouver Canucks prospect rankings.

We’re in our top 10, and today, we bring you a true draft gem who’s been defying the odds since he was selected.

We’ve dangled a few undrafted prospects in our rankings so far. However, Kirill Kudryavtsev will top out as our lowest-drafted prospect at 208 overall (2022).

You often won’t find seventh-round picks in a prospect ranking, especially just inside the top 10. However, the Russian defender has steadily increased his stock as an intriguing piece to this system’s defensive core.

After bursting out of the gate in his draft plus-one season with 50 points in 67 OHL games, Kudryavtsev’s numbers dipped ever so slightly last season to the tune of 47 points in the same number of games.

We’re not too concerned with the small dip in production, though. Kudryavtsev’s game screams much more than cumulative statistics, and as he often preached last off-season, his focus was geared toward fine-tuning his two-way game — which he absolutely did. If plus/minus is an indicator that piques your interest, the 20-year-old improved from a minus-15 in 2022-23 to a plus-29 last year. That’s a plus-44 increase.

In a recent interview with Canucks.com’s Chris Faber, Kirill mentioned that he took a step back from his typical offensive rushes.

“I felt like we had a strong offensive team, so I just decided to stay more in my game and be a two-way defenceman,” said Kudryavtsev. “I still got my points on the power play. I knew I was going to get them there. But I wasn’t really trying to rush and force the puck. I focused on just trying to play less risky and play more for the team because it felt really bad last year when we were trying too much and then didn’t even make the playoffs.”

Interestingly, his attention to the defensive side of the game was evident in our viewings this year, and his confirmation certainly checks out. With his NHL entry-level deal now in place, his game felt much more calculated in his rushes and made a point of maintaining his position. In simplest terms, he trimmed down his game to make it much less complicated. And it’s worked.

What makes Kirill such an intriguing prospect is his toolsy approach. While he’s not elite in any area, he’s extremely capable in all facets of the game: he’s good on the transition, skates well, always has his head up, and can play a solid shutdown game.

His efforts haven’t gone unnoticed either. With 22 votes, Kudryavtsev took home the “Western Conference’s Most Underrated Player” in the 2023-24 OHL Coaches Poll. Although he did not win, he was also the Soo Greyhounds representative for the Red Tilson Trophy, awarded to the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player.

As a 20-year-old, there will be an opportunity to transition to the AHL this fall, and you better believe he’ll push for one. That said, there is a list of skaters piling up on the left side in Abby, and we’re not quite convinced there is room, nor is it the best pathway to play sheltered minutes and potentially be in and out of the lineup.

Of course, we’re not opposed to the idea of him playing in Kalamazoo (ECHL). While the competition may not stack up to those at the American League level, he could see strong minutes against men, with the possibility of moving up if he stands out.

Ultimately, the likely path for Kudryavtsev (assuming he does not make the Abby roster) is to head back for his fourth and final year with the Greyhounds. By all accounts, they should be a strong team for the second year in a row and could push for another run at a Memorial Cup.

Getting stronger both on and off the puck is a cliché often thrown out with transitioning prospects, and that sentiment remains true with Kirill. With a pass-first mentality, his shooting ability could also add some substance. Aside from those small details, the package appears ready for its next challenge.

Ceiling: As a seventh-rounder, the odds are incredibly stacked against him to even sniff the NHL. Yet, at his current trajectory, Kudryavtsev has the potential to develop into a reliable bottom-four defenceman, given his well-rounded skill set. If he can continue to refine his game and maintain his focus on both ends of the ice, we like the odds of him playing meaningful games in Vancouver one day.

Floor: His sound game screams professional hockey player, and if he never fully realizes his true potential, he’ll be providing solid depth as a rotating piece in Abbotsford. With the ability to play in all situations, there’s always going to be a role for him to slot in.

ETA: In the short term, his play will ultimately dictate where he lands in 2024-25. Regardless of where he plays, he will play AHL games next season, whether that be out of camp or post-OHL season. We expect a few seasons of development but could see him push for a spot in three years (2026-27).