Bogdan Konyushkov

September 2023 – Konyushkov kicked off his second KHL campaign right where he belonged – on Torpedo’s first pair, playing a whopping 24:52. There aren’t many 20 year olds in the entire world who play a 1D role on a men’s team. What Konyushkov is doing is very special. It will be exciting to see how he does this year; he clearly has the support of his organization. Aaron Itovitch

July 2023 – Konyushkov may be my favourite player the Montreal Canadiens selected in the 2023 draft. The D+2 overager had a breakout year in the KHL this season, and cemented himself as a true NHL prospect. Less than a week after the draft, Konyushkov came to terms on a three-year extension with Torpedo, meaning he will likely only come over to the NHL at 24 years old. If he is already playing top-pairing minutes and top special teams minutes at 20, its safe to expect he’ll be NHL ready by the time he’s ready to make the jump. Konyushkov thrives along the boards, where his physicality and high-end stickwork makes him a puck-protecting threat. He’s a smart playmaker as well, completing long-range passes with surprising accuracy. He does become slightly lethargic in his own zone, and his passive play away from the puck has room for improvement. While it is impossible to know if he’ll ever come over at all, the Canadiens comfortably have a top-four piece in Konyushkov, which is phenomenal value for the fourth round. Aaron Itovitch