Ivan Demidov isn't the only player Canadiens' front office is watching in Russia

Bogdan Konyushkov has been a forgotten prospect for the Montreal Canadiens. He didn't get many of the headlines already, but the addition of Ivan Demidov in the offseason made him second-in-command for KHL prospects. Konyushkov even recently expressed concerns about the lack of communication between him and the front office. Still, there is no proof that those comments led to the Canadiens' front office's recent trip to Russia.

“There is no specific development plan. Two or three months ago, they wrote me and asked how I was doing. They also sent video clips of one NHL defenseman playing,” said Konyushov when asked about his relationship with the Habs in an interview with RG.org. “Other than that, there was no communication. I don't have such close communication with them as with Ivan Demidov.”

In a surprising move, Kent Hughes, Vincent Lecavalier, and Nick Bobrov recently went on a pre-holiday trip to Russia to visit SKA St. Petersburg and Demidov. The trip worked well, as they also caught a game between SKA and Traktor Chelyabinsk. Demidov stole the show in the game as he broke his goalless drought, but they could also show Konyushkov some support in person.

The Canadiens hope that Konyushkov can further develop to a point where he journeys to North America and takes a crack at making the NHL lineup. He admittedly has taken a stepback recently, but also has plenty of hope that he can turn it around.

“My stats could be better like they were last year and the year before. I don't know why they’re not as good this year; maybe my finishing isn't good. Sometimes, I create chances, but my teammates don't finish them,” said the young defenseman. “But it's okay. The most important thing for me is always about making sure the team wins. Personal results will come sooner or later, but team victories are my priority.”

One thing you can always say about Konyushkov is that he has the correct mindset. It's a player you want to root for, and Traktor showed his leadership and maturity when they made him the captain. Head coach Igor Larionov controversially stripped Konyushkov of captaincy this past offseason when Slava Voynov joined the team. The former two-time Stanley Cup Champion does have more experience on the ice, which can lighten Konyushkov's load.