Amateur
Kudryavtsev recorded two goals and seven points over 20 games with Loko Yaroslavl in the MHL in the 2020–21 season. He also represented Russia at the 2020 Youth Olympics and the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. In August 2021, Kudryavtsev was drafted in the first round, sixth overall, by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the 2021 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import Draft. [2] [3] He made plans to move to the United States despite some resistance from his family, and because he did not speak English, his agent arranged a tutor for him. [4] Due to immigration clearance issues, Kudryavtsev missed the start of the Greyhounds' training camp but was expected to arrive before the 2021–22 season began. [5] Kudryavtsev recorded his first Ontario Hockey League (OHL) point, an assist, on 15 October [6] and scored his first goal on 11 November against the London Knights. [7] In January, Kudryavtsev was ranked 103rd among all eligible North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. [8] Throughout his rookie season, Kudryavtsev began to earn more responsibility from the coaching staff and played on the team's powerplay and penalty killing unit. [9] He finished the regular season with five goals and 34 assists for 39 points through 68 games. [1] There was little consensus on Kudryavtsev's draft position as both TSN's Director of Scouting Craig Button and the NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked him differently. [10] [11] Kudryavtsev was eventually drafted in the seventh round, 208th overall, by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2022 NHL entry draft. [12]
Kudryavtsev returned to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds for the 2022–23 season after attending the Canucks' 2022 training camp. [13] He improved offensively in his sophomore season and was named an assistant captain on 25 January. At the time, he ranked fifth among all OHL defencemen with six goals and 30 assists. [14] While he did not score anymore goals, Kudryavtsev finished the season leading all team defencemen with 45 points. [6] In recognition of his efforts, Kudryavtsev received the team's Most Gentlemanly Player award and Best Defenseman award. [15] Kudryavtsev signed a three-year, entry level contract with the Vancouver Canucks on 10 March 2023. [6]
Kudryavtsev again attended the Canucks' training camp before returning to the Greyhounds for the 2023–24 season. [16] He remained in British Columbia in the summer to train with various local players including Connor Bedard, Mathew Barzal, and Alexander Kerfoot. [17] Kudryavtsev was recognized as the OHL's Player of the Week on 30 October after scoring two goals and four assists in three games. [18] By December, he had accumulated three goals and 19 assists for 22 points through 27 games. [19] Kudryavtsev finished his third OHL season with five goals and 47 points through 67 games [4] and was the Greyhounds nominee for the OHL's Most Outstanding Player. [20]
