San Jose Sharks General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the club has signed 22-year-old center Maxim Letunov, formerly of the University of Connecticut (UConn), to a standard, entry-level contract. Monetary terms are not presently available for this deal.
Letunov has just finished his third season with the UConn Huskies, registering 28 points (12 goals and 16 assists) in 36 games over the 2017-2018 season. He led the team in assists and points and shared the team’s lead for goals, finishing the season as a Second Team Hockey East All-Star. Through his entire collegiate career, Letunov tallied 95 points (35 goals and 60 assists) over 105 games. He was also recognized in his freshman season on Hockey East’s All-Rookie Team and Hockey East’s Second All-Star Team.
Prior to joining the University of Connecticut, Letunov played two seasons in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Youngstown Phantoms, where he scored 107 points (44 goals and 63 assists) over 118 games. He was recognized as a USHL Second Team All-Star during the 2014-2015 season.
Letunov was drafted in the second round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, 52nd overall by the St. Louis Blues. His playing rights were traded to the Arizona Coyotes in March 2015, and were subsequently acquired by the San Jose Sharks ahead of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft alongside a 2017 6th round pick, used to draft Jacob McGrew, in exchange for a 2016 4th round pick and a 2017 3rd round pick.
The tall and talented Russian-born but U.S.-trained center will forego his final season at UConn to join the San Jose Sharks organization.
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