The Calgary Flames have started to sell off their bigger names. During Wednesday evening, the Flames traded centre Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks for multiple pieces. Those pieces were a 2024 first-round pick, a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick (becomes a third in 2024 if the Canucks make the conference finals), winger Andrei Kuzmenko, and defensive prospects Joni Jurmo and Hunter Brzustewicz. All of these assets bring some sort of intrigue but the most intriguing is Hunter Brzustewicz of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers.
Who is Hunter Brzustewicz?
| Player | Position | Handedness | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter Brzustewicz | D | Right | 6’0″ / 1.83m | 190lbs / 86kg |
Hunter Brzustewicz’s career so far
| Year | Draft Relative | League | Team | GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | D-3 | 15U AAA | Oakland Jr. Grizzlies 15U AAA | 66 | 15 | 96 | 111 |
| 2020–21 | D-2 | NTDP | U.S. National U17 Team | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2021–22 | D-1 | NTDP | U.S. National U18 Team | 55 | 2 | 18 | 20 |
| USHL | USNTDP Juniors | 25 | 0 | 9 | 9 | ||
| 2022–23 | D-0 | OHL | Kitchener Rangers | 68 | 6 | 51 | 57 |
| 2023–24 | D+1 | OHL | Kitchener Rangers | 47 | 8 | 61 | 69 |
Hunter Brzustewicz had a strong start with his U16 season. With the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies, he put up an astounding 96 assists and 111 points in 66 games. This was enough to earn him a spot on the U.S. National Team for his U17 season. He started off the season solidly with two assists in three games, but he unfortunately injured his shoulder in practice. This sidelined him for the rest of his D-2 season.
His dominant D-3 year made scouts view him as something special but his surgery requiring injury pushed him down the depth charts for the USNTDP in 2021–22. His 20 points in 55 games wasn’t anything special but Brzustewicz did play behind top prospects in Lane Hutson, Seamus Casey, and Ryan Chesley.
As his draft year was coming, Brzustewicz was set to head off to the NCAA and play for the Michigan Wolverines. He decided against this and joined the OHL with the Kitchener Rangers for the next two seasons. His 57 points in 68 games in his draft season were good enough to see him drafted 75th overall in the third round by the Vancouver Canucks.
He and the Rangers finished 12th in the OHL and went to the second round of the playoffs being eliminated in five games to the London Knights. Now after being drafted, Brzustewicz has shown the player he can be.
He has an amazing 69 points in 47 games and is third in OHL scoring as a defenceman. The only defenceman in the CHL coming close to Brzustewicz’s production is draft-eligible Zayne Parekh on the Saginaw Spirit. The Rangers and Brzustewicz currently sit sixth in the OHL and are poised to attempt a deep playoff run.
With Brzustewicz having a late 2004 birthdate, he will be considered an over-ager for the OHL next season and will be eligible for the AHL. Signings for 2024–25 contracts can be signed as early as March 1 so we could see Brzustewicz sign around then.
Hunter Brzustewicz’s style of play
What makes Brzustewicz stand out is his offensive ability. According to him, he views his best traits as his passing and hockey IQ. He finds that he can make the game easier for his teammates and can find them for a play in difficult positions. Scouts are typically impressed by his puck-moving skills whether that be his passing, hockey sense, skating, etc.
His passing is deceiving and tricks opponents with quick movements of the puck. He can also draw opponents towards him to create easier passing lanes. He’s got good offensive vision, seeing layers in traffic, and will set up for a shot or make a pass depending on the situation.
Brzustewicz’s skating seems to be the next thing that recognizable about his game. It is easily above-average and he uses his edgework to his advantage. Brzustewicz can make sharp and deceptive turns to keep control of the puck and throw off defenders. These turns and spins can also make him lose attacking opponents giving him more time and space to work with. The creativity and hands he possess allow him to be invasive and keep the flow of offence going.
On top of that, his deceptive shot fools defensive players and ends up as goals or added pressure. He’s always doing his best to keep the offence going which helps his transition game which is also a stand out. No defenceman in the OHL can run a power play like he does. His mix of smarts and puck-moving ability make him a dangerous power play quarterback. He has drawn comparisons to many high-profile defencemen such as Adam Fox, Brandon Montour, Rasmus Andersson, Gustav Forsling, and P.K. Subban.
All that being said, Brzustewicz doesn’t come without flaws and there have been some defensive and off-puck concerns. Some scouts state that he sometimes seems like he’ll hold onto his energy for a possible offensive rush as opposed to the current defensive responsibility. Some others say he doesn’t put in enough effort and strength into his defensive play. Another problem that is talked about is his overall strength. He has a fine frame at 190 lbs and has a good amount of muscle but sometimes it seems like it’s absent or he is just not using it.
A good pickup for the Flames
Hunter Brzustewicz looks to be a pretty good get for the Flames. He’s had an interesting development path but his production has finally blossomed. He’s near the top of the OHL scoring race and is getting points at a rate that very few defencemen are close to matching. Brzustewicz’s main draw is his offensive ability. Highlighted by his passing, IQ, and skating, Brzustewciz plays a deceptive game that’s paired with great puck-moving ability and tight turns.
There are some questions about his defensive game and strength but they look to be rounding out. Risk does come with Brzustewicz but his ceiling is very high and we could see him as a great puck-moving defenceman for the Flames one day.
