University of Connecticut Athletics
Yan Kuznetsov Signs with Calgary Flames
3/30/2021 5:39:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
OFFICIAL CALGARY FLAMES RELEASE
STORRS, Conn. - UConn defenseman Yan Kuznetsov (Murmansk, Russia) has signed a three-year entry level contract with the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL), forgoing his final two years of eligibility with the Huskies.
Kuznetsov was a 2nd round pick by the Flames, 50th overall, in the 2020 NHL Draft held this past October. The sophomore defenseman, the youngest player in the NCAA as a freshman in 2019-20, is the fourth highest draft pick in program history.
In his two seasons in Storrs, Kuznetsov played in 50 games and totaled 17 points on three goals and 14 assists. This season, he had six points (1 goal/5 assists) in 16 games and finished as a +5 for the year. During the season, he along with classmate Vladislav Firstov (Yaroslavl, Russia) became the first NCAA players to earn a spot on the Russian National Team for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship.
