All Marat Khusnutdinov was looking for was an opportunity.

Despite breaking camp in the NHL ranks this fall, the 23-year-old forward found himself riding on the carousel of fourth-line wingers on Boston’s depth chart to open the 2025-26 campaign.

Entering Tuesday’s home game against the Islanders, Khusnutdinov had appeared in just six of Boston’s first 11 games of the season.

The 2020 second-round pick’s crafty puck play and crisp edge work painted the picture of an NHL forward with legitimate middle-six upside. But through the first three-plus weeks of NHL action, he couldn’t crack a spot beyond Boston’s checking line.

Tuesday marked a step in the right direction, with Bruins head coach Marco Sturm opting to elevate the young forward on Boston’s top line next to David Pastrnak and E

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