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Hey! Thanks for watching :) Please subscribe to my channel: Elite Prospects: Maxim Valeryevich Shalunov (Russian: Максим Валерьевич Шалунов) (born 31 January 1993) is a Russian professional ice hockey player with the HC CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Shalunov was selected in the 4th round (109th overall) by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He was born in Chelyabinsk, Russia. Shalunov grew up playing youth hockey in Russia. During the 2010–11 MHL season, Shalunov played with the Belye Medvedi, the Junior Hockey League (MHL) team, which contains hockey players from the school affiliated with the Traktor Chelyabinsk KHL team. He also played six games with Traktor in the KHL during the 2010–11 KHL season. After being drafted by the Blackhawks, Shalunov returned to Russia and played the 2011–12 MHL season with Belye Medvedi. During the 2012-2013 season, Shalunov’s time was divided between Belye Medvedi as well as Traktor’s VHL team, Chelmet Chelyabinsk. He also played one game with Traktor. Shalunov played in North America during the 2013–14 season. He started the season with the Rockford IceHogs, the Blackhawks’ American Hockey League affiliate. After registering four assists in twenty games with Rockford, Shalunov was assigned to the Toledo Walleye, the Blackhawks’ ECHL affiliate where he contributed with 18 goals and 34 points in 43 games. On July 28, 2014, Shalunov returned to his native Russia, signing a one-year contract with HC Sibir Novosibirsk of the KHL. After the 2016–17 season, his third year with Novosibirsk, Shalunov was traded along with Sergei Shumakov and Konstantin Okulov to CSKA Moscow in exchange for Alexander Sharov and financial compensation on the opening day of free agency on May 1, 2017. Observations 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
