The Abbotsford Canucks have taken the American League by storm, and now sit just four wins away from etching their name on the Calder Cup.

It’s a remarkable turnaround for a team that sat in the middle of the Pacific Division’s tight race at Christmas.

Their playoff surge is a testament to a roster with the perfect blend, combining veteran grit with the energy of emerging prospects. Among those youngsters is 21-year-old rookie defenseman Kirill Kudryavtsev, who continues to defy his seventh-round draft status with a poise and impact that go beyond his age and draft pedigree.

While the crop of young defenceman sitting the queue of the Vancouver Canucks’ pipeline is rapidly growing, Kudryavtsev is making a strong case to be on the shortlist for “next in line.”

His journey to this point has been anything but conventional. Selected 208th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, the Yaroslavl native has been fighting the late-round narrative throughout his entire post-draft career. Despite a promising junior career, he entered the professional ranks with relatively modest expectations, often overshadowed by higher-profile prospects in the system.

But that hasn’t stood in the way of him making his mark on the organization in short order.

In the days leading up to the Calder Cup playoffs, he was awarded a two-game NHL cameo with Vancouver in the regular season — a feat that only two seventh-round picks have accomplished since the 2021 draft class — and offered a glimpse of his potential, as he held his own against top competition.

Today, as the Abbotsford Canucks battle through the AHL playoffs, he continues to stand out with the poise of a savvy veteran. Marked by composure, poised puck-moving ability, and defensive reliability, he’s earned himself a pivotal role on a team chasing championship glory.

Although impressive, Kudryavtsev’s growth hasn’t come without hurdles.

Navigating the longest season of his young career, he’s suited up for 15 of Abbotsford’s 18 playoff games, often logging hefty minutes and power play time.

But with a blueline chock-full of experienced AHL veterans and the intensity of postseason hockey exposing expected growing pains, he was briefly held out of the lineup midway through the run for a short reset.

The pause proved to be a turning point, as Kudryavtsev worked closely with assistant coach Jordan Smith, dissecting game tape to pinpoint areas for improvement.

“We watched my shifts, and he pointed out my mistakes,” Kudryavtsev told post-game media. “He told me to watch it from above. Then, unfortunately, Wolly [Christian Wolanin] got out (injured), and I got my chance to step back in and earn the coaches trust.”

In typical mature fashion, he wasn’t blind to the extreme leap from OHL to AHL playoffs. “Well, it was a really hard, as I expected, tough couple of first games,” he said. “It’s very different from the OHL playoffs. Guys are coming really hard at you, and you need to bypass that pressure and stress. But [I] got lots of trust from my coaches, and I hope I’m doing good now.”

That trust has paid dividends.

From a viewing perspective, the short absence only highlighted his importance to the team’s backend, as the Canucks’ transition game took a well noted hit. When he returned, the team’s breakout game was revitalized, with Kudryavtsev’s crisp first passes and confident puck-carrying sparking the rush.

At 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, Kudryavtsev’s size remains a point of scrutiny for his NHL aspirations. Still, he’s answered doubters with exceptional stick work and hockey sense through the regular season and now four hard-fought playoff matchups.

His quick feet allow him to close gaps swiftly, while his active stick disrupts plays without sacrificing position.

Whether quarterbacking the power play or shutting down opponents in his own zone, he anticipates the game with a calculated composure that acts beyond his age.

“He’s not an overly big guy, but he compensates with his ability to move his feet and close plays with a good stick, closing time and space with speed,” head coach Manny Malhotra said during an intermission interview with play-by-play announcer Brandon Astle.

“He’s more than willing to get physically engaged in the corners,” Malhotra continued. “He’s done a really good job of using the minutes he’s earned. The fact that he’s 21 never really pops into my mind.”

Throughout its entirety, he co-leads the entire Calder Cup playoffs with an impressive plus-13 rating, having been on the ice for just two goals against at 5v5 in 15 games.

Meanwhile, his seven assists tie him for third among all playoff defencemen, showcasing his ability to contribute offensively while maintaining his defensive responsibilities.

Although impressive considering the elevated state of the postseason, Kudryavtsev’s success isn’t exactly a shocking revelation.

During the regular season, he finished with a plus-18 rating, placing him 12th overall in the AHL and tied for first among rookie defensemen. His 26 points (five goals, 21 assists) finished seventh highest among rookie defenders and tied for second on the Abbotsford backend.

His game, which now shifts to an even larger spotlight of the Calder Cup Final, continues to impress as a rookie skater. Likely to hone his craft in the AHL next season, he’s already staked his claim as a prospect to watch for possible promotions sooner rather than later.