Flames select D Yan Kuznetsov 50th overall

With their second pick of the 2020 NHL draft, the Calgary Flames have selected Yan Kuznetsov 50th overall in the second round. He is actually the 49th player off the board, as the Arizona Coyotes were required to forfeit the preceding pick due to draft testing violations exposed earlier this offseason.

Kuznetsov is currently in his sophomore year at the University of Connecticut, after putting up 2 goals and 11 points in his freshman season. The massive 6’4” Russian is a solid shutdown defender who can move the puck up the ice effectively. He was the 36th ranked North American skater in the official 2020 Draft rankings.

He becomes the first Flames second round pick since 2016, when the Flames took Dillon Dube and Tyler Parsons 54th and 56th overall.

by Gordie Taylor