Konyushkov was a fourth-round pick in 2023.
Many of us talk about the SHL being a top-notch, developmental league, and it is, but the KHL is very close. Philadelphia Flyers star, Matvei Michkov is a good example and more teams seem eager to spend mid-round to late-round picks on some players. They don’t have to be signed quickly to ELCs and they do develop.
There’s always a wait with KHL players because of circumstances and contracts. The more they make, the longer they tend to stay there. When the Canadiens drafted
Bogdan Konyushkov in 2023, they were playing the long game. Statistically, it’s paying off. In 2022-23, while playing for Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo, he had 25 points in 64 games. Then the following season, he had 28 points in 65 games. This season, he has eight points in 34 games, a bit below his usual but his plus/minus is better so I thought I would dig in to see what he’s like.
This season according to InStat, he gets 3.01 of power play time. That makes sense but he also gets 2:48 on the penalty-kill and that’s fantastic. He gets off 3.5 shots per game and he’s winning 60% of his puck battles. At 6’0” 183 pounds, there’s a lot to like.
At 21, he has a good wrist shot that gets through, and he’s a smooth passer. He gets back quickly on defense, and when his team gets possession, he presents his stick well and then gets up the ice quickly. His team is very offensive, and he does stay back on defense, and I think that’s holding back 5-on-5 chances for him.
Konoyushkov gets 67% defensive zone starts and this will help him prepare for the NHL.