The management of the Montreal Canadiens is convinced they got a real steal by drafting Bogdan Konyushkov in the fourth round

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Elias Edmonson
September 1, 2023 (12:33)

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Many fans eagerly awaited the Montreal Canadiens documentary that granted behind-the-scenes access to the 2023 draft. We indeed learned some very interesting information about the process that led to the selection of David Reinbacher at the 5th spot.

However, a moment involving the Canadiens' prospect, Bogdan Konyushkov, greatly caught our eye. In fact, the Habs' management appeared to have a massive soft spot for the Russian defenseman, who seemingly impressed the scouts and the organization's leaders.

Nick Bobrov even went on to say that if Bogdan Konyushkov had played in the NCAA instead of the KHL, he might have been drafted in the second round. A statement that speaks volumes about the young defenseman's potential!

"You know, we said if a 20-year-old prospect from the NCAA did what he did in the KHL, he'd be drafted in the second round [referring to Bogdan Konyushkov]." - Nick Bobrov

Drafted at the 110th spot, Bogdan Konyushkov excelled in his first KHL season, collecting 25 points in 64 games. Furthermore, even though he was the youngest defenseman on Torpedo, he quickly established himself as an indispensable player in the lineup, averaging nearly 21 minutes per game and being used on both special teams.

His outstanding performances, also accumulating five assists in ten playoff games, earned him a spot among the finalists for the KHL Rookie of the Year title.

"His intelligence and passing abilities are truly his main strengths. I'd say he was one of the best passers in the KHL this season. He's very skilled at exiting the zone and rarely panics with the puck. His outlet passes to the forwards were very precise." - Alexander Appleyard

Under contract until 2026, Bogdan Konyushkov should continue to get a lot of playing time for his development. It's still too early to say for sure, but many scouts see him as a future second or third-pair defenseman in the NHL. If he reaches his full potential, this Canadiens pick could be a real steal in a few years.