The Canadiens have a new Mikhail Sergachev, and it's a big deal

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David St-Jean
August 14, 2024 (12:48)

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Everyone remembers one of Marc Bergevin's worst trades when he dealt Mikhail Sergachev for Jonathan Drouin.

While Drouin is a talented player, Sergachev has since emerged as a top defenseman in the NHL, whereas Drouin has never quite reached the level his talent might suggest.

It was a trade that hurt the Canadiens for several years, but that's now in the past, and the defense corps looks very promising today.

A new Mikhail Sergachev with the Canadiens?

The coach of the Canadiens' 4th-round pick in 2023, Bogdan Konyushkov, believes his defenseman has the potential to go far in the NHL.

"Bogdan is becoming a solid and reliable player. I don't want to over-praise him. We often expect progress from young players, but sometimes life throws obstacles in their way.

However, Bogdan is a serious young man, and I believe he has the potential to reach the level of star 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 needed to become a top player for the Montreal Canadiens in the future."

- Igor Larionov

This 21-year-old defenseman, who is already a captain of his team in the KHL, is receiving a lot of praise-a rare achievement at his age in that league.

According to Larionov, there are no limits to his offensive potential.

"At Torpedo, Konyushkov is the best defenseman in the offensive zone. I see great potential in him. He could become a player who quarterbacks the power play. That's an important role because, like a quarterback, he understands his teammates' play and makes smart decisions that lead to goals.

Such is his potential. There is also room for improvement. We want him to work on his shooting technique and shoot more, as he knows how to find a shooting lane."

- Igor Larionov

Bogdan Konyushkov plans to attend the Canadiens' rookie camp next year, though he still has a year left on his contract in the KHL.

It's still possible for him to arrive a year earlier with the new agreement between the leagues, so it will be interesting to see what the plans of the organization and the defenseman will be.

Regardless, it's very encouraging for the future. The Canadiens already have Lane Hutson, Logan Mailloux, and David Reinbacher waiting in the wings. Add Bogdan Konyushkov to that list.