Maxim Letunov

March 2022 – Letunov is now 26 and has 200 AHL games under his belt (106 points) and three NHL games which all came back  in 2019-2020 with San Jose. He is likely to be an AHL contributor for his career. Alex Wyatt

July 2019 – The Sharks re-signed Letunov to a one year contract extension. The Lanky center had an up and down year in the AHL and just didn’t quite post the numbers you would hope from a prospect his age. It is anyone’s guess where he ends up next season, a good training camp could land him a spot on the big club. However a poor offseason could leave him the odd man out even at the AHL level. Odds are he continues developing with the Barracuda where he left off. Chris Legg

June 2019 – After a strong start, Letunov slowed down a bit this season in his first as a
professional player. It can be an adjustment coming from the NCAA, where the schedule is much more forgiving than that of the AHL. With 28 points in 57 total games, Letunov did not have a terrible season, but the Sharks hoped for more considering he is already 23 years old and there isn’t much development time left. He is finishing the last year of his entry level deal and with the number of forwards the Barracuda will have to find room for, there is no guarantee they will retain his services this off-season. If he does ever manage to make the jump to the NHL, he projects as a bottom six forward. Chris Legg

January 2019 – Letunov has been playing primarily on the Barracuda’s third line this season. The lanky centerman has fairly pedestrian numbers so far with 16 points through 34 games. Although he is receiving some power play time, Letunov just is not getting the minutes he needs to produce more. This should not be considered a knock on the player, as this is his first pro year and the Barracuda’s forward depth is deep. Look for Letunov to earn a more prominent role with the Barracuda next season with the chance to earn himself a call up or two. Chris Legg

September 2018 – Letunov potted a goal and an assist as he suited up for the first two games of the Vegas Rookie Showcase. Letunov was one of the Sharks best during the tournament and looked like a man amongst boys in Las Vegas. At 22 years old, Letunov was one of the older players in the tournament and he did not disappoint. He used his speed and his reach advantage to retrieve pucks and seemed to be in good position for his teammates to find him for scoring chances. The Sharks are high on Letunov, the expectation is for him to start with the Barracuda, but he will challenge for a call up as early as this season. Chris Legg

July 2018 – Maxim Letunov signed his entry level deal with the San Jose Sharks this past March. The Russian center will forgo his final year of college hockey, choosing to turn pro instead. Letunov stood out in the recent Sharks development camp, marking his fifth NHL development camp. Letunov is a skilled playmaking center, his 6-4 frame is a plus as well although he needs to add bulk. He is working out in San Jose this summer trying to do just that. Letunov stands a chance of making the Sharks opening night roster as the fourth line center, albeit probably not a great one. More likely, he gets his feet wet in the AHL first, but don’t be surprised to see him get a cup of coffee in the NHL when injuries inevitably occur. Chris Legg

January 2018 – The lanky Russian center is leading the University of Connecticut Huskies with 19 points in 21 games. As is his custom, most of the points Letunov is putting up are assists with 14 helpers. Of note is his +3 rating and should he keep it positive, would be the first NCAA campaign that Letunov has accomplished this feat. His slight build is still a concern but is currently listed 10 pounds heavier than this past summer, so some good news on that front. His skill with the puck is not a question, but the ability to keep from being pushed off the play will be helped by the extra weight. Zachary DeVine

March 2017 – The big Russian pivot had a solid Sophomore season with the University of Connecticut Huskies, but it’s been a slight step backward in terms of point production. With his linemate Tage Thompson turning pro and signing with the St. Louis Blues, there is now a waiting game going on with Letunov as well. Reports are the Huskies have not heard back if Letunov will return for his junior year. If Letunov does turn pro, he’s a prospect to watch for next season with the Barracuda, who likely have at least one or two graduates heading up to the NHL level, opening a spot for Letunov in the AHL. Zachary DeVine

June 2016 – Arizona traded Maxim Letunov’s rights and a 2017 sixth-round pick to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 2017 third-round pick and a 2016 fourth-round draft pick. This seems like a odd trade since Letunov was looking like an excellent prospect after a strong freshman season at UCONN, setting the school’s rookie scoring record for points, assists and goals. New Coyotes General Manager John Chayka had this to say on the trade: “Signing an NCAA player with lots of development still left is always a concern. That becomes compounded when you have depth at center like we do with our prospects. It’s a good fit for San Jose.” Keith Duggan

April 2016 – It was an outstanding first season of college hockey for Maxim Letunov. What looked like maybe a downgrade with Letunov attending UCONN instead of BU could be a blessing as he got to be the school’s premier player. He finished eighth in Hockey East scoring with 16 goals and 40 points in 36 games, second among freshman. Letunov still needs to bulk up but he’ll have plenty of time at UCONN as the Coyotes are not going to rush him to the NHL. Keith Duggan

October 2015 – In Maxim Letunov’s first collegiate game for UCONN, he scored a hat trick in the team’s 5-2 win over Alabama-Huntsville. Keith Duggan

August 2015 – Maxim Letunov has been cleared to play college hockey for the University of Connecticut during 2015-16 season. This is huge news for the Huskies who are in desperate need of scoring. Don’t be surprised if Letunov is one of the top scoring freshman in college hockey this year. Keith Duggan

August 2015 – Maxim Letunov has committed to UConn after his initial plan to attend BU fell through due to complications with the admissions process. He could be one of the top freshman in college hockey when he debuts. UConn is still awaiting word on his admission and then if Letunov will be granted NCAA eligibility for the upcoming year or 2016-17. He just finished an excellent season in the USHL, posting 64 points (25 goals, 39 assists ) in 58 games for the Youngstown Phantoms. Keith Duggan

March 2015 – The Coyotes received prospect Maxim Letunov at the trade deadline from the St. Louis Blues for defenseman Zbynek Michalek and a conditional third-round pick. Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney has said he had planned to take Letunov with the 58^th pick in the 2014 draft but the Blues grabbed him with the 52nd pick (though taking Christian Dvorak 58^th seems to be working out). Like most Russian players, Letunov is very skilled with the puck and excellent in traffic, but his two-way play needs some work. The biggest knock on him; he’s very lanky and needs to put on some weight and muscle, when drafted Letunov was listed at 155lbs. Even though he’s Russian, Letunov has been playing in North America the past four season, two for the U16 Dallas Stars before moving on to the USHL where he is in his second year with the Youngstown Phantoms. He’s currently third in the USHL in scoring with 23 goals, 57 points in 49 games. He has verbally committed to Boston University, where he’ll start playing in 2015-16. Keith Duggan