Photo courtesy of TheAthletic.com

Fantasy Summary

Worrying that he chose to stay longer in Russia, but has sparked offensively and is increasing in value


Observations

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October 2020- Shalunov is once again suiting up for CSKA Moskova in the KHL where he is once again off to a good start. At this point, it does not look like he will be heading over to North America any time soon. The immensely talented 27-year-old would have been a great fit for the now rebuilding Blackhawks. Tony Carr

March 2018- Shalunov has been on fire recently, leading CSKA Moskva in scoring during the regular season, including a stretch where he scored goals in five straight games. He has added three goals during a quarterfinal sweep of Spartak Moscow. His talent is immense and is something the Blackhawks desperately need going into next season. Tony Carr

April 2017- it appears as though Shalunov will not be joining the Blackhawks anytime soon. With the announcement of the NHL not participating in the 2018 Winter Olympics, Shalunov’s agent has stated that his client has decided to stay in Russia, keeping his Olympic dreams alive. Tony Carr

February 2017- Shalunov’s season has come to an end as his KHL team, Sibir Novosibirsk, has missed the playoffs. This makes him eligible to sign with the Blackhawks and join the team for the tail end of this season. This will probably not happen this season though, so don’t count on him producing for your fantasy team this year. Tony Carr

January 2017 – Rumours about Shalunov possibly coming to play for the Blackhawks after his season is done in the KHL are swirling. Having his best season as a pro to date, the hulking Russian winger could follow in the footsteps of fellow countrymen Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov and join the Blackhawks. Tony Carr

April 2016 – Shalunov just wrapped up his second year with Novosibirsk Sibir of the KHL, where he notched 20 goals and 15 assists in 69 regular season and playoff games. Upon the conclusion of the season in March, he re-upped for the 2016-17 campaign. Still only 23 years-old, it remains to be seen if he will ever return to play professionally in North America. Matt Donohue

December 2015 – Shalunov is currently playing out the final year of his deal with Novosibirsk Sibir of the KHL. He has 14 points through 39 games after putting up just four points in 33 games last season. Unless an NHL team comes calling this summer, he is likely to remain overseas for the foreseeable future. Matt Donohue

February 2015 – Since being drafted in the fourth round by the Blackhawks in 2011, Shalunov struggled to adjust to the North American game. In his lone professional season here in 2013-14, he had no goals and just four assists in 20 games with Rockford, followed by a 43 game stint in the ECHL. Rather than returning to try and compete for an AHL job in 2014-15, Shalunov bolted to Russia on a two-year deal with Novosibirsk Sibir of the KHL. Assuming he plays out this contract, he will be a 23-year-old former fourth rounder with just 20 AHL games to his name when it expires in 2016. Shalunov will certainly be hard pressed to find another NHL contract and may have to settle for an AHL deal if he chooses to come back to North America. Matt Donohue

September 2013 – Shalunov will in fact get a chance to show what he’s made of at the North American pro level. He was sent down to Rockford and will spend the season gaining needed experience. Rex Doty

June 2013 – Shalunov wasn’t able to latch on with the KHL’s Traktor Chelyabinsk, only seeing one game without a point. He spent the season with Traktor’s minor league teams. Between the two minor league teams he put up 19 points in 26 games. It’s most likely that Shalunov will remain with Traktor for the coming season. Rex Doty

November 2012 – Shalunov is currently a member of the Russian national junior squad competing in a six-game series versus CHL all-star teams in the SUBWAY Super Series and he has been one of Russia’s most effective weapons.  After four games, Shalunov sits tied with Nail Yakupov for the team’s scoring lead with 2 goals and 4 points and will be a vital member of the Russian 2013 WJC roster. Brendan Ross

November 2012 – Maxim Shalunov is in the typical mold of a Russian high-flying forward as he possesses the elite skating ability, shiftiness and offensive puck skills that makes him a constant offensive threat.  Shalunov has improved his defensive awareness substantially since being drafted in the fourth round (2011).  Shalunov owns the size, skill and creativity to become a true offensive weapon at the next level.  Brendan Ross

Attributes
Fantasy Upside 6.5
NHL Certainty 2.5
Country RUS
Position C
Roster Type Free Agent
Shoot/Glove Left
Date of Birth January 31, 1993
Height 6‘3”
Weight 203 lbs
Drafted 2011 Round 4; Overall: 109

Stats

 Season Team League GP G A TP PIM      Playoffs GP G A TP PIM 
 2006-2007 Team Urals U14Districts Cup U14- - -- -|        
 2007-2008 Team Urals U15Districts Cup U155 3 25 8|        
 2008-2009 Traktor Chelyabinsk U16Russia U1626 29 3059 78|        
  Team Urals U16Districts Cup U165 1 34 2|        
  Team Urals U17Districts Cup U175 0 00 2|        
  Russia U16 (all)International-Jr- - -- -|        
 2009-2010 Traktor Chelyabinsk U17Russia U1726 39 3372 46|        
  Traktor Chelyabinsk U17Russia U17 Finals6 7 1219 8|        
  Team Urals U17Districts Cup U175 10 616 12|        
  Belye Medvedi ChelyabinskMHL3 2 35 12|Playoffs4 6 17
  Russia U17WHC-176 1 23 10|        
  Russia U17 (all)International-Jr12 2 46 20|        
  Russia U18WJC-187 3 14 31|        
  Russia U18 (all)International-Jr7 3 14 31|        
 2010-2011 Traktor ChelyabinskKHL6 0 11 0|        
  Belye Medvedi ChelyabinskMHL39 22 1436 42|Playoffs5 1 67
  Russia U18WJC-186 2 13 0|        
  Russia U18Hlinka Gretzky Cup4 2 13 0|        
  Russia U18 (all)International-Jr18 5 49 8|        
  Russia U18 |WJAC-19|WJAC-194 0 00 8|        
 2011-2012 Belye Medvedi ChelyabinskMHL48 30 3060 60|Relegation6 3 58
  Russian Selects U20Jr Super Series6 0 00 0|        
  Russia U19 (all)International-Jr3 1 56 0|        
  Russia U20CCOA U204 9 514 2|        
  Russia U20 (all)International-Jr11 3 25 0|        
 2012-2013 Traktor ChelyabinskKHL1 0 00 0|        
  Chelmet ChelyabinskVHL19 2 79 10|        
  Belye Medvedi ChelyabinskMHL7 3 710 6|        
  Russia U20WJC-206 0 22 6|        
  Russia U20 CAN-RUS Challenge2 2 02 2|        
  Russia U20 (all)International-Jr19 7 613 12|        
  Russian Selects U20Jr Super Series6 2 24 2|        
 2013-2014 Rockford IceHogsAHL20 0 44 8|        
  Toledo WalleyeECHL43 18 1634 19|        
 2014-2015 Sibir NovosibirskKHL33 1 34 8|Playoffs16 4 15
  Yermak AngarskVHL6 0 33 6|        
 2015-2016 Sibir NovosibirskKHL59 18 1230 32|Playoffs10 2 46
  RussiaEHT5 0 00 2|        
  Russia (all)International6 1 01 4|        
 2016-2017 Sibir NovosibirskKHL49 19 1837 26|        
  RussiaEHT6 3 14 0|        
  Russia (all)International6 3 14 0|        
 2017-2018 CSKA MoskvaKHL46 20 2040 24|Playoffs17 3 25
  RussiaEHT6 1 01 6|        
  RussiaWC8 3 36 4|        
  Russia (all)International14 4 37 10|        
  Russia II (all)International1 0 00 0|        
 2018-2019 CSKA MoskvaKHL55 14 1125 34|Playoffs20 3 710 10 
  RussiaEHT6 0 33 4|        
  Russia (all)International6 0 33 4|        
 2019-2020 CSKA MoskvaKHL54 14 1125 26|Playoffs4 1 12
 2020-2021 CSKA MoskvaKHL52 18 1735 26|Playoffs22 12 618 37 
  RussiaEHT3 1 01 0|        
  RussiaWC6 1 01 2|        
  Russia (all)International9 2 02 2|        
 2021-2022 Lokomotiv YaroslavlKHL32 8 715 10|Playoffs4 2 02
 2022-2023 Lokomotiv YaroslavlKHL62 29 1342 26|Playoffs12 1 67
 2023-2024 Lokomotiv YaroslavlKHL68 17 1936 28|Playoffs17 5 16
 2024-2025 Lokomotiv YaroslavlKHL12 3 36 4|        

Highlights