A young Habs' prospect compared to Mikhail Sergachev by Igor Larionov

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Carl Vaillancourt
August 21, 2024 (11:15 PM)

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In recent years, the hopes on the Canadiens' blue line have garnered a lot of attention with prospects like Kaiden Guhle, Logan Mailloux, Lane Hutson, and David Reinbacher. However, a new name has emerged, backed by a former NHL star.

Russian defenseman Bogdan Konyushkov, the Canadiens' fourth-round pick in 2023, is becoming increasingly popular in conversations. According to his head coach with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, Igor Larionov, he had good things to say about his protégé. He even compared the young defenseman to a certain Mikhail Sergachev.

In an interview with Daria Tuboltseva of the media outlet Responsible Gambling, the three-time Stanley Cup champion was full of praise when discussing the 110th overall pick in the 2023 draft.

Responsible Gaming - Igor Larionov sees big futur for Canadiens prospect Bogdan Konyushkov

Here is his exact statement:

"Bogdan, in my opinion, is becoming a solid and reliable player. I don't want to get ahead of myself by praising him too much. People often expect young players to progress, but sometimes life throws obstacles in their way. Bogdan is a serious young man, and I believe in his potential to reach the level of players like Mikhail Sergachev, Nikita Kucherov, Artemi Panarin, Kirill Kaprizov, Alex Ovechkin, or Evgeni Malkin, as he dreams of. I know he has the skills and intelligence to be a valuable player for the Montreal team in the future."

- Igor Larionov

Wow, what a statement from Larionov. Comparing this 21-year-old defenseman to these NHL superstars is no small thing!

Bogdan Konyushkov is a solid acquisition for Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens, according to Igor Larionov

The comparison to Mikhail Sergachev is, in our opinion, the most intriguing. The trade of the team's first-round pick in 2016 for Quebecer Jonathan Drouin was a stinging failure of the Bergevin era. However, we've seen how the Russian defenseman has progressed and how he has become a cornerstone of a Stanley Cup-winning team. Having a player of this caliber within the Canadiens' ranks would be a colossal win. Konyushkov even describes his playing style as similar to that of Sergachev. He enjoys delivering solid hits to his opponents, and his timing already places him among the elite in the KHL.

"I am not just an offensive defenseman. I know how to defend, but I am still learning. I am versatile. My role is to initiate attacks and stop those of the opponents."

- Bogdan Konyushkov

His 2023-2024 season wasn't smooth, as he suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery. This somewhat slowed his development. Nevertheless, Larionov has confidence in him and even gave him, at just 21 years old, the title of captain.

The Canadiens' management has great confidence in Igor Larionov for the development of their prospect. This is notably why there hasn't been constant communication between the two parties. The head coach of Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod knows how to guide the young man. When you've had a career on the blue line in the NHL like Larionov's, it commands respect!

If all goes well next year, Konyushkov would like to participate in the next Canadiens' development camp. In 11 months, we might see him in action with the organization's prospects.

Last season with his KHL club, the defenseman tallied six goals and 22 assists for a total of 28 points in 65 games. It will be interesting to see his progress in 2024-2025.

Source: HABSolumentFan
Igor Larionov y va d'une comparaison flatteuse pour Bogdan Konyushkov