Bogdan Konyushkov
Bogdan Konyushkov was an unheard of prospect when the Canadiens drafted him in the fourth round of the 2023 NHL Draft. He had been passed over twice, as he was first eligible for the draft in 2021, but the Russian defenseman finally heard his name called last June.
He played the 2022-23 season in the KHL with Torpedo Novgorod. The 5’11” right shot defender scored two goals and 25 points in 64 games, sticking at the highest level as a young player which is not often the case in Russia. He was sent down to their Junior affiliate after their KHL season was done and he scored six points in six playoff games to help win a MHL championship.
This season, Konyushkov has taken on an even bigger role and is excelling. He has been scoring steadily at about half of a point per game all season and now has three goals and 18 points in 35 contests. His production puts him just outside the top ten in scoring among defenders in the KHL, and he is still 20 years old while most of the blue liners ahead of him are former NHL players with several years of pro experience.
That’s impressive for a player who was basically unheard of, was a bit of a shocking pick even in the fourth round, and had been completely passed over in 2021 and 2022. He may not have been well known then, but he has put himself on the NHL’s radar with his strong play this season and the Canadiens are looking very smart for rolling the dice on him with a middle round draft pick.