| Maxim Muranov | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | L | RW | 6’2″ | 168 | Calgary Hitmen | 2021 | Moscow | 2004 | 2022-2023: Free Agent 2021-2022: C+ |
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran, February 25, 2023: Physically Muranov is almost an NHL package. He has a 6’2″ frame to continue adding mass to, but more importantly his skating posture will allow him to maintain his speed as he gains weight. I like that away from the puck he’s added more structure to his game and doesn’t seem to be drifting towards the puck as much when he is the weakside forward. He also seems to be heading into contact more confidently and is showing the strength to not get knocked off stride by incidental contact. Because of this he’s added an element of physicality to his game that wasn’t there last year. In 2021/22 he average 0.65 hits per game and was on the receiving end of 0.65, compared to this season when he’s averaging dishing out 1.15 hits per-game and receiving 0.71. This increased confidence has led to him upping his puck battle winning percentage from 46% last year to 53% during 2022/23. I don’t think he’s going to get drafted and he’s probably not going to get a development camp invite, but I do see him as a player who adds some weight and comes back next year to the WHL and turns into a power forward with some skill and plus skating ability. My feeling is what we’re seeing here is not what we’re going to be seeing when he’s twenty or twenty-one so for his sake I’m hopeful that he trains his butt on this off season and comes back next year with some man muscles added to his game.
Neutral Zone NHL, July 4, 2022: Why an NHL draft pick, he is 6’2″ and only 168 pounds, but has the skating base to add and carry more weight. He has good 1on1 puck skills. He can play with pace. 61% of his shots hit the net. Why not an NHL draft pick, he has limited structure in his game and tends to go rogue. He won 46% of his puck battles. During the 2021/22 season, he attempted 135 total shots with 114 coming while even strength. Forty-six of those even-strength attempts missed the net or were blocked.
WHL Calgary Hitmen, March 5, 2022: A rocket on the ice, Muranov has speed to burn and used it exclusively throughout both games. Muranov is a bit of a wild card on the ice, seeming to lack structure to his game and had a few shifts where he did Nascar laps around the offensive zone, not really building any offensive pressure, but his ability to build speed while moving laterally and protect the puck at the same time was a skill that helped him in the offensive zone. Muranov has a quick, deceptive release and showed the ability to change the angle of attack and release throughout the two games on the weekend, but did struggle to find the back of the net to this point on the season. As a draft eligible player for the 2022 NHL draft, Muranov has a lot of tools that will make him an interesting prospect, but whichever team decides to take him on will need to develop a better understanding of supporting the puck away from the play, as well as changing speeds and pace to better suit his tools. Grade: B-
WHL: Calgary Hitmen Draft Prospects, December 20, 2021: Muranov is a lanky, but strong 6’2″ 165 pound rookie forward from Moscow. He has a sneaky wide dribble that he uses to open passing lanes or to get defenders leaning before he subtly slides the puck to open teammate. He has a bowlegged skating style that adds to his elusiveness in one on one situations especially when escaping from contact below the goal line. As a puck carrier there are times when Muranov tries to do too much, but we feel that a steady diet of hardnosed defenders in the Western League will get him to utilize give and goes more often. Right now he is only averaging about 11 minutes of playing time per-game, but we feel that as he learns to play a North American style he has the potential to be a dynamic offensive weapon for the Hitmen.