Pavel Buchnevich Bio
Pavel Buchnevich is a Russian professional ice hockey forward for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League. Born on 17 April 1995 in Cherepovets, Russia, Buchnevich began his professional career in the Kontinental Hockey League before moving to North America following his selection by the New York Rangers in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
Early Life and Background
Pavel Buchnevich was born in Cherepovets into an athletic family; his mother Yelena Razumova was a competitive skier and his father Andrey worked as a youth soccer coach. He developed in the local system and rose through youth and junior ranks in Cherepovets, establishing himself as a productive scorer with Almaz Cherepovets in the Junior Hockey League.
Across 102 games with Almaz, Buchnevich recorded 110 points, showcasing early playmaking ability and offensive instincts that attracted attention from international scouts. He signed a three-year professional contract with Severstal Cherepovets for the 2012–13 season and split time between junior and professional levels while recovering from an injury-plagued 2011–12 season.
Path to Hockey
Buchnevich was ranked among the top international skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau ahead of the 2013 draft and was selected 75th overall by the New York Rangers. He opted to remain in Russia initially, compiling a breakout 2013–14 KHL season with 13 goals and 17 assists in 48 games and continuing to develop against men’s competition in the Kontinental Hockey League.
In his final KHL season Buchnevich was traded to SKA Saint Petersburg, where he changed his jersey number from 89 to 88 and finished the regular season with 16 goals and 37 points while contributing in the playoffs. His KHL performance and international junior medals prompted the Rangers to sign him to an entry-level contract in May 2016.
Pavel Buchnevich Career
Early Career (2012–2016)
Buchnevich debuted professionally with Severstal Cherepovets during the 2012–13 season after signing a three-year deal with his hometown club. He developed a reputation as a high-event offensive player through his junior totals and his breakout appearances in the KHL, finishing among the top assist producers for players under 20 in 2013–14.
His final season in the KHL included a trade to SKA Saint Petersburg and a strong return of 37 points; after that season he underwent a short rehabilitation for bursa sac surgery on his left elbow following the playoffs. The move to SKA and the subsequent transfer to North America set the stage for his NHL transition.
New York Rangers Breakthrough (2016–2021)
Pavel Buchnevich signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the New York Rangers on 13 May 2016 and made the club’s opening-night roster for the 2016–17 season. He recorded his first NHL point, an assist, in his debut on 13 October 2016 and scored his first NHL goal on 5 November 2016 against the Boston Bruins.
His rookie campaign was interrupted by back spasms that cost him significant time, requiring conditioning reassignment to the Hartford Wolf Pack before returning to the Rangers. Across subsequent seasons with New York, Buchnevich was deployed in multiple roles, from first-line minutes alongside Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider to fourth-line assignments, while steadily increasing his offensive production and finishing the 2018–19 season with a career-high 32 points through 50 games.
In 2019–20 Buchnevich set further career marks in points and assists before the season paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic; he played on the Rangers’ top power-play unit alongside Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad early that season. On 17 April 2021 Buchnevich recorded his first NHL career hat-trick in a 6–3 win over the New Jersey Devils and completed the 2020–21 regular season with a career-high 48 points in 54 games.
St. Louis Blues Era (2021–Present)
On 23 July 2021 Pavel Buchnevich was traded by the New York Rangers to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Samuel Blais and a 2022 second-round pick. Days after the trade he signed a four-year, $23.2 million contract with the Blues and debuted with the team to start the 2021–22 season.
Early in his Blues tenure Buchnevich served as a key middle-six forward and power-play contributor, ranking third on the team in points through March 2022 with 46 in 50 games before missing time with a concussion. He reached the milestone of 100 career NHL goals in March 2022, marking a notable scoring landmark for his NHL tenure to that point.
Driving Style and Strengths
Buchnevich plays with a combination of size at 6 ft 3 in and playmaking instincts; he shoots left and generates high shot and possession metrics in 5-on-5 play. He has been effective on the power play, showing vision and timing on the half-wall and in transition, and his ability to play both a scorer’s and facilitator’s role has suited line deployments at multiple positions.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key moments in Buchnevich’s career include his NHL debut point on 13 October 2016, first NHL goal on 5 November 2016, his first NHL hat-trick on 17 April 2021, and scoring his 100th career NHL goal in March 2022. He has also experienced injuries and suspensions during his NHL service, including back spasms in his rookie year, a broken thumb in a later season, and a two-game suspension in 2021 for an on-ice incident while with St. Louis.
Pavel Buchnevich Career Wins
As a forward, Buchnevich’s notable milestones are individual scoring landmarks and playoff appearances rather than trackable race-style wins. He reached 100 NHL goals in March 2022 and has produced multiple multi-point games, including his career hat-trick in April 2021. In the KHL he registered a breakout season in 2013–14 with 30 points in 48 games and finished his final KHL season with SKA Saint Petersburg at 37 points.
NHL Highlights
Buchnevich’s NHL highlights include his debut assist on 13 October 2016, first NHL goal on 5 November 2016, and the three-goal performance on 17 April 2021. He climbed to 100 career NHL goals by March 2022 and has been used regularly on the power play and in scoring lines during both New York and St. Louis tenures.
Other Wins & Perfromances
At the junior and international levels Buchnevich won a gold medal at the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and medaled at the 2014 and 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships with Russia, earning a bronze and a silver respectively. His junior scoring totals with Almaz Cherepovets and his KHL production contributed directly to his NHL draft selection and eventual North American transition.
Pavel Buchnevich Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Buchnevich comes from an athletic family in Cherepovets; his mother, Yelena Razumova, was a competitive skier and his father, Andrey, worked as a youth soccer coach. That sporting environment contributed to his early development and competitive foundation in hockey.
Personal Life
Public records and reporting list no verified spouse or children details in the provided sources. Buchnevich relocated from Russia to North America to pursue his NHL career and has maintained ties to Russian national teams at junior and senior levels.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season Pavel Buchnevich remains under contract with the St. Louis Blues through 2025 on a deal that began in 2021 and carries an average annual value consistent with the signed four-year contract. His role with the Blues has centered on middle-six scoring, power-play minutes and transitional offense, and he is expected to continue contributing as a playmaker and secondary scorer while the club balances depth and special-teams responsibilities.
Outlook for the 2025 campaign focuses on sustained health and consistent deployment alongside linemates who can complement his playmaking strengths. With a track record of multi-point games and power-play production, Buchnevich’s performance will influence the Blues’ scoring balance and playoff positioning if he maintains form and availability.