Canadiens’ Goalie Prospect Radkov Reflects on Draft Surprise & Path Forward

It has been a busy period for Arseni Radkov. The young netminder was first picked by the Montreal Canadiens 82nd overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Then, he was selected in the first round with the 33rd pick by the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the Québec Maritimes Junior Hockey League in the 2025 CHL Import Draft. Radkov is now confirmed to line up with the Armada for the 2025-26 QMJHL campaign. Moreover, he’s also taking part in the Habs development camp. In this translated interview, Radkov talks about his draft surprise, development plans, key mentors, and Belarusian goaltending.

** You can read the original interview in Russian at sports.ru here **

Radkov was surprised to be drafted by the Habs. And also by his position. “The first thing I felt was surprise,” the netminder confirms. “Honestly, I didn’t expect to be picked that high. I thought I’d go a bit later in the draft, but I want to thank Montreal for the confidence and trust they’ve shown in me. A huge thank you, of course, goes to my family — my dad, mom, and sister — who’ve always supported me on this challenging journey. Without their help, I probably wouldn’t have made it. I’d also like to give special thanks to all the coaches who have worked with me, especially Artyom Yatskevich. I’ve been in contact with him since childhood, and we still work together every summer. It means a lot to have someone like Artyom Yatskevich — both as a coach and a person — in my life.”

Radkov and His Future

Moreover, the young netminder seems to already have a clear mind on his future. “I’m not trying to predict anything just yet. The draft is only the beginning. My plan is to play another year at the junior level, and then spend 3–4 years in college hockey,” he says. Radkov is committed to playing for the University of Massachusetts starting in the 2026-27 season. “I know it’s a long road, and I’ll need to perform well at every level, in every season, and in every game to keep the interest of a historic club like Montreal alive — and to keep progressing toward my ultimate goal: reaching the NHL. As for French… I haven’t started learning it yet (smiles), but I think if I get the chance to play and spend more time there, it won’t be a problem.”

Radkov was drafted quite high for a goalie with the 82nd overall pick. But he doesn’t seem to be scared. “Yes, it’s definitely a high pick,” the goalie explains. “As I said, it was a bit of a surprise for me. But honestly, it just gives me more motivation to keep moving forward. I understand that if I was drafted that high, people see potential in me. Now it all depends on me — how I justify that trust and how I continue to develop to reach my peak and earn a spot with a team like Montreal.”