Maxim Shalunov
| Birthday: 1993-01-31 | Position: RW |
| Eligible for draft: 2011 | Shoots: Left |
| Drafted: 2011 | Height: 6-3 |
| Acquired: 4th round (109th overall), 2011 | Weight: 185 lbs. |
Probability of Success
- D
History
2008-09: Maxim Shalunov scored 29 goals with 30 assists in 26 games for Traktor Chelyabinsk’s 1993-born squad.
2009-10: Played for Belie Medvedi Chelyabinsk in the MHL. In 3 games for that team, Shalunov scored 2 goals and added 3 assists for 5 points. In 4 playoff games, Shalunov scored 6 goals and added 1 assist for 7 points. Shalunov played for Russia at the 2010 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, scoring 3 goals and adding 1 assist for 4 points in 7 games to go along with 31 penalty minutes. Shalunov was chosen in the first round, 15th overall, of the 2010 KHL Draft by Traktor Chelyabinsk.
2010-11: In 39 games for Belie Medvedi Chelyabinsk, Shalunov scored 22 goals and added 14 assists for 36 points to go along with 42 penalty minutes. In 5 playoff games, he scored 1 goal and added 6 assists for 7 points. Shalunov played for Russia at the 2010 World Junior A Challenge, poting no points in 4 games. Shalunov also played for Russia at the 2011 U-18 World Junior Championship, scoring 2 goals and adding 1 assist for 3 points in 6 games.
2010-11: Shalunov made his KHL debut, appearing in six games for Traktor Chelyabinsk, and was the leading goal scorer for the Chelyabinsk junior team (Belie Medvedi). Shalunov had 1 assist and was minus-two with seven shots on goal in his brief stint with Traktor. In 39 games for Belie Medvedi he scored 22 goals and added 14 assists with 42 penalty minutes. In 5 playoff games, he scored 1 goal with 6 assists. Shalunov played for Russia at the 2010 World Junior A Challenge, potting no points in 4 games. Shalunov also played for Russia at the 2011 U-18 World Junior Championship, scoring 2 goals with 1 assist in six games.
2011-12: Shalunov was the leading scorer for Belie Medvedi in his second MHL season despite appearing in just 48 of 60 games. He scored a team-high 30 goals with 30 assists and was plus-one with 60 penalty minutes. Shalunov was especially dangerous on the power play – where he scored 10 of his 30 goals. Belie Medvedi was forced into the play outs after finishing sixth in the Ural-Siber Division and in six post-season games Shalunov scored 3 goals with 5 assists and was plus-four with 8 penalty minutes.
2012-13: Shalunov returned to Russia after impressing in Chicago’s prospect camp – splitting the year between pro hockey and the Russian junior league (MHL). He also skated for third-place Russia at the 2013 World Junior Championship in Ufa. Shalunov appeared in one game for Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL and played 19 games for the club’s second team, Chelmet, in the VHL. He scored 2 goals with 7 assists and was -10 with 10 penalty minutes. In seven junior games with Belle Medvedi he scored 3 goals with 7 assists and was +4 with 6 penalty minutes. Shalunov played six games at the WJC, missing one game due to a suspension, and had 2 assists ; finishing +2 with 6 penalty minutes.
2013-14: Shalunov spent a season in the Blackhawks organization on an AHL contract — appearing in 20 games with Chicago affiliate Rockford and playing most of the season for the ECHL’s Toledo Walleyes. He had 4 assists and was minus-4 with 8 penalty minutes with the IceHogs. In 43 ECHL games he scored 18 goals with 16 assists and was minus-22 with 19 penalty minutes. The Walleyes missed the ECHL playoffs; finishing last in the North Division. Shalunov signed a contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL in June and was subsequently traded twice over the summer.
2014-15: Shalunov returned to Russia after spending most of the 2013-14 season in the ECHL. He played in 33 regular season games and 16 playoff contests for Sibir Novosibirsk and skated for Yermak Angarsk in the second division, VHL. He scored 1 goal with 3 assists and was -7 with 8 penalty minus during the regular season for Sibir, averaging nine minutes of ice time. Novosibirsk finished first in the Chernyshev Division and reached the Eastern Conference finals against Kazan Ak-Bars. Shalunov scored 4 goals with 1 assist and was +6 with 4 penalty minutes in 16 playoff games, averaging just under 13 minutes of ice time. In six VHL games with Yermak he had 3 assists and was -3 with 6 penalty minutes.
Talent Analysis
Shalunov has a combination of skills and size and plays a direct style that fits the North American game. He likes to play the off-wing and likes going to the net. He is pretty effective in doing this and has the skills to protect the puck with the goal scoring ability to beat opposition goalies. He’s still a bit raw, but has a good shot and size. He looks to be putting those elements together in his first full season in the KHL.
Future
Shalunov is off to a fast start for Sibir Novosibirsk to start the 2015-16 season — showing signs of the player that Chicago scouts felt he could one day become. While numbers don't always tell the whole story, the fact that he is seeing significant ice time in the KHL as a 22-year-old and has been productive is encouraging. With many forward prospects in the Blackhawks' pipeline it is difficult to gauge where Shalunov fits. If he continues to produce points and show progress he could garner interest from other clubs in need of offense.
