This Prospect Is Having A Strong Start to KHL Season

Konyushkov is now in his 4th KHL season with Torpedo and is now seen as a young veteran for the team that is currently undefeated in 6 KHL games this season. While he has been part of the offense as of late, the 22-year-old’s main attribute is the fact that he plays a solid, reliable game where he faces his opponent’s top forwards on a nightly basis.

Konyushkov is not only one of the best defensemen on Torpedo, but he’s also among the top young defenders throughout the entire KHL. However, when it came time earlier this summer to participate in the Canadiens Development Camp, he struggled to show why he is among the most intriguing defensive prospects in the Habs system, and there has been less talk of him ever since then. Nonetheless, it can take time for a player who is used to bigger ice surfaces in Russia and Europe to get used to playing on the North American ice. Even with his failure to impress with his skating, Konyushkov can eventually play as a strong defensive presence on a 3rd pairing in the NHL. It will also depend on whether he decides to finally leave Torpedo.

As of now, Konyushkov has remained a loyal soldier with Torpedo and even re-upped his contract this past summer until the end of the 2026-27 KHL season. Therefore, we will have to wait until his age 24 season before we can ever possibly see him playing with the Montreal Canadiens organization. Luckily for the Habs, they will retain his NHL rights until at least then, so if he does, in fact, want to come to North America after his contract expires, he will need to do it in the Bleu, Blanc et Rouge organization in the 2027-28 season.

According to a report done by Sergey Demidov of RG Media, Konyushkov wants to help Torpedo win a Gagarin Cup before going over to North America. He does, however, have dreams of eventually playing in the NHL someday, so for now, we can still have hope that Konyushkov could eventually slot in as a 3rd pairing right-handed shot defenseman with the Habs after his contract expires. Although time will tell if he prefers to stay in Torpedo in the long term.

During his interview with Demidov, he mentioned that he would like to make his NHL debut one day, but it also depends on what his family wants, as he is happy if they are. Either way, he will have a hockey career, whether it’s here in North America or he chooses to play long-term in Russia, the 22-year-old has a very bright future in hockey.

Konyushkov did mention in the interview that he got to spend time with potential rookie sensation Ivan Demidov when in Montreal and enjoyed his time in the city. He also mentioned that he liked watching Habs players practice, as it helped him realize that he still has a lot of work before coming over to play in the NHL someday.

For now, hopefully, Konyushkov and Torpedo continue to be a force this year in the KHL as they continue their quest for the young defenseman’s first Gagarin Cup. Last season, Konyushkov was lent to Torpedo’s VHL team, Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo-Gorky, for their playoff run that ended with them winning a championship. This clearly helped Konyushkov realize he had unfinished business in the KHL before there is any chance of seeing him come over.

Do you see Bogdan Konyushkov eventually coming over and playing for the Canadiens?