12 from 12. Best defensemen: Kalinin and Chudinov

Continuing our rundown of the KHL’s top players in each position. 12 seasons, 12 players. Today we’re going on with defensemen with Dmitry Kalinin and Maxim Chudinov.

12 from 12. Best defensemen: Kronwall and Rylov

10. Dmitry Kalinin

GP: 627, G: 82, A: 143, Pts: 225, +/-: +78, PIM: 390

Clubs: Salavat Yulaev, SKA, Spartak, Traktor

Country: Russia

One of the KHL players with the biggest experience — he played his first IIHF WC in 2002 and won the gold medal in Quebec in 2008 — Dmitry Kalinin signed back in Russia in 2009, after spending the previous ten seasons in North America, except for the 2004-05 lockout campaign. In his first year in the League, Kalinin was one of the top D-men, and his name resounded in the awards as he made the First All-Star team after scoring 12 goals in the regular season. Next year, he helped Salavat winning their first, and so far only Gagarin Cup.

After the triumph, Kalinin moved to SKA. In his fourth season on the shores of the Neva river, he raised over his head his second Gagarin Cup, even if his role at SKA wasn’t the one he enjoyed in Ufa. Until 2012, Kalinin was a regular for Team Russia, with whom he won an impressive three gold medals, adding a further triumph to his collection in his last participation in 2012 when he was also a KHL All-Star for the second time. After SKA, he spent three years in Moscow representing Spartak. In 2017-18, the veteran defenseman looked young again, scoring 21 points and getting yet another call to the All-Star Game, but age started demanding its tribute. In 2019, he moved East to his native Chelyabinsk, where he captained Traktor. The season was disappointing for both the D-man and the team, and hardly he will be back for a second season in the Tanks City.

9. Maxim Chudinov

GP: 635, G: 73, A: 150, Pts: 223, +/-: +100, PIM: 592

Clubs: Severstal, SKA, Avangard

Country: Russia

One of the most constant players in the league’s history, Maxim Chudinov has a long CV to showcase, including gold medals at the U18 and senior WCs, and two Gagarin Cups. Despite being only 30, Chudinov moved his first steps as a pro in 2006, when he played two games in the old Russian Superleague with his native Severstal Cherepovets. Later that year, Chudinov helped Russia winning the U18 WJC gold medal in Finland. The veteran D-man spent the first four KHL seasons at home in Cherepovets, before moving to SKA in 2012. In St. Petersburg, Chudinov will play his best seasons. In particular, in 2014-15, he won his first Gagarin Cup as one of the key players of the team, ending the playoffs on the top of the plus/minus, blocked shots, hits, and points by a defenseman. One of the best shot-blockers in the league, he will lead the KHL in this rankings also in 2015-16 and 2018-19.

Chudinov enjoyed some international glory. Other than the U18 triumph, he also helped Russia win the gold medal at the 2014 IIHF WC in Minsk, a silver in 2015, and a bronze in 2016. However, his 2016-17 campaign with SKA wasn’t great, and the D-man appeared in only one game in the 2017 playoffs. At the start of the 2017-18 campaign, Chudinov moved to Avangard. Playing in Omsk, and then in Balashikha, was good for the blueliner, who returned to his old level, scoring points, and blocking shots for the Hawks. Last year, the team led by Bob Hartley climbed up to the Gagarin Cup finals, and Chudinov’s play was recognized with Best Defenseman honors for the second round when he scored four points in five games against Barys. In 2019-20, Avangard had a disappointing campaign, and Chudinov was limited to 12 regular-season games due to a severe lower-body injury. Was it a coincidence? Chudinov will line up for the Hawks for another two seasons as he is signed through the 2021-22 campaign.