A significant acquisition by the Canadiens isn't making headlines, but it could truly become a masterstroke
The Montreal Canadiens had an unusual draft in 2023, with the highly criticized selection of David Reinbacher at 5th overall, and the fact that they had to wait for more than sixty picks before the club started drafting again.
In total, the organization added three goaltenders and several players who were not in their first year of eligibility to be drafted, which was clearly a deliberate trend adopted by the team's management for this year's draft.
At the end of the fourth round, the Habs acquired defenseman Bogdan Konyushkov, who was both an unknown and highly intriguing pick. During the draft documentary shared by the Canadiens, we can learn more about the Russian player who impressed the team's scouts.
According to Bobrov, if he had played in the NCAA, he would have already been selected in the first two rounds. This speaks volumes about his potential, considering he plays in the second-best league in the world, the KHL.
In addition to being very young, starting the last season at the age of 19, Konyushkov continued to impress his team to the point where he went from being a third-pair defenseman to one of the defensive pillars under his coach. He was heavily used during the playoffs, which is a clear sign of the confidence his coach had in him.
His Russian team has already stated that the Canadiens' prospect will be an important part of the team in the years to come, as he has signed a three-year contract that will make him available for the NHL only for the 2026-2027 season.
By that time, he will be more ready than ever to have an immediate impact in the best league in the world.
| POLL | ||
Did you watch the Montreal Canadiens' documentary on the 2023 draft? | ||
| Yes | 39 | 36.8 % |
| No | 67 | 63.2 % |
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