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Winnipeg Jets: Kuzmin is Having An Outstanding 1st OHL Season

By Kieran Hurley

LONDON, ON - MARCH 17: Ty Dellandrea #53 of the Flint Firebirds takes a faceoff against Robert Thomas #27 of the London Knights during an OHL game at Budweiser Gardens on March 17, 2017 in London, Ontario, Canada. The Knights defeated the Firebirds 7-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
LONDON, ON - MARCH 17: Ty Dellandrea #53 of the Flint Firebirds takes a faceoff against Robert Thomas #27 of the London Knights during an OHL game at Budweiser Gardens on March 17, 2017 in London, Ontario, Canada. The Knights defeated the Firebirds 7-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Last summer at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, the Winnipeg Jets selected Belorussian defenseman, Dmitry Kuzmin with the 82nd overall selection in the third round of the draft.

A couple of months later, the Jets then signed the eighteen-year-old defenseman to a three-year entry-level contract.

The Jets coaching staff then invited Kuzmin to the Jets training camp, where he was ultimately loaned to the Flint Firebirds of the OHL.

Winnipeg Jets prospect, Dimitry Kuzmin, is having an outstanding first OHL season

Kuzmin was originally supposed to make the jump from Belarus to the Flint Firebirds of the OHL for the 2020-2021 season, but with the COVID-19 pandemic ultimately forcing the league to cancel the season, Kuzmin stayed in his homeland for that season.

With the OHL returning for the 2021-2022 season, Kuzmin finally got to make the jump from Europe to North America to help his development.

Many people were not really sure what we would see from the eighteen-year-old in his first season in Canada. Obviously, Kuzmin has an immense amount of talent and a high-upside considering he was drafted in the third round, but there was no telling if there would be an adjustment period making the jump to North America.

But no adjustment was needed this season as Kuzmin is having a great first season in Flint. Currently, the five-foot-ten-inch defenseman has 15 goals, 21 assists, and a plus-6 plus/minus in 49 regular-season games.

According to EliteProspects, Kuzmin is the top-scoring defenseman in goals and points on the Firebirds with 15 goals and 36 points.

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Just like the NHL, the OHL is coming into the final stretch of their season, but unlike the Winnipeg Jets in a fight to make the playoffs, Kuzmin and the Firebirds have already clinched a playoff spot.

The Firebirds have amassed 77 points in 60 games played which places them in second in the West Division.

Winnipeg Jets Fans: Do you think Kuzmin will be a member of the Winnipeg Jets by the 2023-2024 season? Leave your comments below!

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