Igor Larionov Sees Big Future For Canadiens Prospect Bogdan Konyushkov

HC Torpedo defenseman Bogdan Konyushkov. Credit: hctorpedo.ru

By the age of 21, Bogdan Konyushkov had extensive professional hockey experience. He had already spent two seasons in the KHL and established himself as one of the most promising Russian defensemen. He played 65 games for Torpedo and scored 28 points (6 goals and 22 assists) last season. Hockey legend Igor Larionov, the head coach of Torpedo, also promoted him to team captain.

"I can't call myself a purely attacking defenseman," Bogdan says about himself in an interview with RG. "I can play defense. Yes, I can't do everything defending, but I'm learning. I am a versatile defenseman. I have a role in starting an attack and preventing the opponent's attacks. 

I can still play on the powerplay and support the attack. But in the Torpedo, all the guys can do this. I’m grateful to the coaching staff and personally to Igor Larionov for not forbidding us from being creative and jumping offensively all the time. On the contrary, they encourage us to do it. Thanks to this, we, I mean our defensemen, are becoming two-way forwards."

Torpedo has been coached by Igor Larionov, a three-time Stanley Cup winner and a Detroit Red Wings legend, since 2022. He was the one who discovered Konyushkov and allowed him to play 20 minutes a game in the KHL when he was only 20 years old.

"In the Torpedo, Konyushkov is the top defenseman in the offensive zone. I see a lot of potential in him. He could be the player who leads the entire line on the powerplay. This is an important position on the blue line, as he, like a quarterback, understands the game of his entire five and makes smart decisions that lead to goals. That is his potential. And then there is room for improvement. We want him to improve his shooting skills and shoot more as he knows how to find a shooting lane," says Larionov.

Canadiens trust Larionov

The Montreal Canadiens selected Konyushkov in the fourth round as the 110th overall pick at the 2023 NHL Draft. He was drafted in the late rounds mostly because of his small size (6'0", 172 lbs).

"We don't communicate with Montreal very often. I spoke with the Russian scout after the season once, we just chatted, and they asked me how my season went. This year, I didn't even consider attending a development camp, as I was recovering from surgery, and all my energy and focus were directed toward that. If all goes well next year, I would be happy to attend a development camp."

Konyushkov acknowledged that he had not received any guidance from Montreal's representatives. 

"I was not drafted very high, and I still have two years left on my contract, so it's more profitable for the club to focus on players already part of the system. When I spoke to the scout, he said, 'You're in good hands of Igor Larionov, he won't tell you to do anything unnecessary or wrong.' I think that's why the team feels comfortable with me, and there's no constant communication between us."

Larionov sees big potential in Konyushkov as an NHL player.

"Bogdan, in my opinion, is becoming a solid and reliable player. I don't want to get ahead by praising him too much,” Larionov says. “We often expect progress from young players, but sometimes life throws them back. Bogdan is a serious young man, and I believe in his potential to reach the level of players like Mikhail Sergachev, Nikita Kucherov, Artemi Panarin, Kirill Kaprizov, Alex Ovechkin, or Evgeni Malkin, as he dreams of it. I know he has the skills and intelligence to be a valuable player for the Montreal team in the future.”

Konyushkov's contract with Torpedo expires in 2026. By that moment one Russian player could already be playing for Montreal - Ivan Demidov, who was selected 5th in the latest NHL draft. His contract with SKA ends in 2025.

"Ivan and I don't know each other, but I heard that Celine Dion has drafted him,” Konyushkov says. “Congratulations on your selection in the draft! It's great to be named by Celine Dion under the 5th pick. I read online and heard from the Montreal public that he has very positive reviews. I think he will meet all the expectations.”

“I am interested in sports in America and Russia, so I follow Twitter and other media. Although I often get posts and podcasts from Montreal, the fans in Canada watch and share them with me.”

Bogdan is aware of the huge interest in hockey in Montreal and is prepared for the pressure from the fans. "It's great when the city is so passionate about hockey. That's how it is in Nizhny Novgorod right now. But Montreal is bigger, and the Canadiens’ arena is much bigger. Canadian teams haven't won the Stanley Cup in a long time, and the Oilers haven't won this year. That also has an impact. It's wonderful that people love hockey so much, but I understand it can be difficult mentally. Still, I think it's more than worth it."

Preparation for the season

Training camps have been open in the KHL since August 1st. Konyushkov is currently focused on training for the upcoming season.

"We have just started training camp, so I want to give him some freedom and provide him with a linemate who can support him in being more aggressive offensively and playing more like a fourth forward,” Larionov says. “We will see how well this works out in practice. But I believe he has the potential to do it. I want him to be more active and mobile. He hasn't scored many goals, but reliability is important to us, too, so we want a balance. His potential is limitless.”

Konyushkov sees his performance improving. "Compared to last year's results, my stamina has grown. However, you must understand that tests don't always reflect your readiness for the season. What matters most is how I feel during training camp and my inner state. My health is good."

He started training long ago. In mid-July, he participated in a charity game in Moscow, organized by Rangers forward Artemy Panarin and Utah Hockey Club defenseman Mikhail Sergachev. In this event, KHL Russian players faced off against Russian NHL players.

"Misha Sergachev contacted me on Instagram, which was very unexpected. I was on vacation with a group of friends in Sochi, and we were having dinner when I saw a notification from Sergachev. At first, I wasn't sure if it was meant for me, but it turned out it was indeed for me. Misha himself had written and invited me to take part in the game. I was delighted to participate, and the experience was incredibly positive for me and my family.

It was great to face off against Malkin, Ovechkin and Panarin. Watching Ovechkin's first goal will give you an idea of the high level of skill in the NHL. It was amazing to play against players I admired as a child. As a young fan, I particularly liked Dmitry Orlov when he played for the Capitals. He was a tough defender with a high IQ, and watching him was a delight. It was also a pleasure to shake hands with him after the charity game in Moscow."

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Last season and injury

Last season was Bogdan's most productive season. He became the most effective defenseman for Torpedo, but success was not easy for the young player.

"It was a difficult season. There were personal problems and no parents around me, but somehow, I managed to get through it and gain a lot of experience. At the end of the regular season, there was a series of losses, which was very hard. There was devastation and disappointment, and I just wanted to hide and not see anyone. I am currently working on my mental preparation for the upcoming season. Psychology is just as important as physical skills. It is a necessary skill for hockey, just like mastering the ice. Your performance on the ice depends on your mindset. I work with a psychologist, and I can say that it has helped me focus and learn to deal with anxiety. The guys in my team also practice with a psychologist.”

Konyushkov ended the season with an injury, and SKA knocked Torpedo out in the first round of the playoffs.

"My shoulder was out of joint. During the series against SKA, doctors decided that surgery was necessary. It could have healed without surgery in the offseason, but it would have become a problem next season. A week after the playoffs ended, I went to St. Petersburg for surgery. After a week, I started to recover in Nizhny Novgorod. From refusing to raise my arm to almost full range of motion in two months, it was not an easy recovery".

Idols and favorite players

In the upcoming season, Konyushkov faces a challenge from Torpedo in the race for the title of top defenseman. The Nizhny Novgorod team signed a one-year deal with two-time Stanley Cup winner Slava Voynov, who starred for the Los Angeles Kings.

"I know everything about Voynov in terms of hockey," Konyushkov says. "He's a famous player who has won a lot. It will be fun to compete with him and see how I perform compared to him. I feel lucky to have him sitting beside me in the locker room. I think I can learn a lot from him."

The young defenseman admits that Voynov was one of the players he admired.

"I've always enjoyed watching him, but of course, I also keep an eye for the defensemen from the NHL. Adam Fox impresses me. And all the amazing young defensemen, like Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar, are fast and score many goals. Watching them, I find there’s much to learn from them."