Maxim Kuznetsov

For the Russian swimmer, born in 1982, see Maxim Kuznetsov (swimmer).

Maxim Kuznetsov
Born	(1977-03-24) March 24, 1977 Pavlodar, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union
Height	6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight	240 lb (109 kg; 17 st 2 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Traktor Chelyabinsk Vityaz Chekhov Avangard Omsk SKA Saint Petersburg Dynamo Moscow Los Angeles Kings (NHL) Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
NHL draft	26th overall, 1995 Detroit Red Wings
Playing career	1995–2008

Maxim Romanovich Kuznetsov (born March 24, 1977) is a Russian former professional ice hockey player. Kuznetsov was drafted 1st (26th overall) by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

After the 1995 draft, Kuznetsov played for the Dynamo Moscow before making the trip to North America. For two games in the 96–97 season and until the end of the 98–99 season he played for the Detroit Red Wings' AHL affiliate, the Adirondack Red Wings. He followed this with a single season playing for the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks before being called up to the NHL in the 00–01 season. Unfortunately, a knee injury suffered in a game against Vancouver caused him to miss much of the remaining season. The following year he found his place with the Wings as a true defenceman and bolstered the already deep blueline, helping the Wings to win the Stanley Cup. He played 39 regular season games. but did not play in the playoffs. His name was left off the Stanley Cup, because he was two games short of 41 minimum required to be engraved on the cup. However, Detroit did award Maxim with a Stanley Cup Ring.

In the latter part of the 02–03 season, Kuznetsov was traded to the Los Angeles Kings along with Sean Avery and two draft picks for Mathieu Schneider. Upon his arrival with the Kings organization, he spent the majority of his playing time with the team's AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs.

On June 7, 2004 Kuznetsov signed as a free agent with Dynamo Moscow (due to the NHL lockout) once again. After playing only ten games for Moscow he was released and then signed as a free agent by SKA Saint Petersburg where he continued to contribute with his hard lined defensive play.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1994–95	Dynamo Moscow	IHL/CIS		11	0	0	0	8		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Dynamo Moscow	IHL/CIS		9	1	1	2	22		4	0	0	0	0
1996–97	Dynamo Moscow	RSL		23	0	2	2	16		—	—	—	—	—
1996-97	Adirondack Red Wings	AHL		2	0	1	1	6		2	0	0	0	0
1997-98	Adirondack Red Wings	AHL		51	5	5	10	43		3	0	1	1	4
1998-99	Adirondack Red Wings	AHL		60	0	4	4	30		3	0	0	0	0
1999-00	Cincinnati Mighty Ducks	AHL		47	2	9	11	36		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		25	1	2	3	23		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		39	1	2	3	40		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Cincinnati Mighty Ducks	AHL		7	1	0	1	4		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		53	0	3	3	54		—	—	—	—	—
2002-03	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		3	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		16	0	1	1	20		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Manchester Monarchs	AHL		39	2	8	10	57		2	0	0	0	4
2004-05	Dynamo Moscow	RSL		10	0	0	0	24		—	—	—	—	—
2004-05	SKA St. Petersburg	RSL		34	4	6	10	72		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Avangard Omsk	RSL		6	0	1	1	6		—	—	—	—	—
2005-06	SKA St. Petersburg	RSL		15	1	0	1	26		3	0	0	0	4
2006–07	SKA St. Petersburg	RSL		14	0	1	1	12		—	—	—	—	—
2007-08	Vityaz Chekhov	RSL		31	2	1	3	67		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Traktor Chelyabinsk	KHL		10	0	0	0	16		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				136	2	8	10	137		—	—	—	—	—

External links

• Maxim Kuznetsov career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• Maxim Kuznetsov biography at Legends of Hockey (archived)