Impressed with how slavic Zachail Fucalov looks amongst his fellow KHLers.
Prospect Info: [2023 - 110th] Bogdan Konyushkov (KHL - Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod)
- Thread starter Adam Michaels
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In a Slavic look contest nobody will ever beat Vadim Shipachyov
Yeah it’s impressive that even without the production he’s still an All Star.
I don’t think he necessarily has plus plus offensive upside even if he replicated last year’s production but I doubt he lost whatever offensive upside he flashed last year. More likely it being a case of what you mentioned
I doubt he's starting in the AHL, he's been a top KHL dmen for two seasons now, he's going to be above the other RHDs on the depth chart once he cross over.
I've watched Torpedo's game against Lada earlier this month, which they won out of sheer luck, and also their tilt against Vityaz whose ultimate score looked flattering for Torpedo compared to on-ice play.
In those games, Torpedo as a whole got out-possessed, gave up way more high-danger scoring chances than their opponents while also managing to lose a majority of the 50/50 puck battles in all 3 zones. Simply put, those games were ugly for Torpedo and in those it not only "rained" for them, but it "poured".
And when the team around you is generally not playing well it can often be tough to look good as a defenseman, moreso given how strong a league the KHL is.
To substantiate my point even more, I thought that Konyushkov and his partner got hemmed in their zone in the recent games that I saw, and that things looked "dangerous" quite a few times for them. But when Konyushkov wasn't on the ice I also thought that Torpedo's opponents dictated play a LOT more than when he was on the ice.
And that, to me, is why Konyushkov has gotten the fan vote to get included to the All-Star game for his team.
No matter what the offensive stats say, Konyushkov is quite probably the single most important defender for Torpedo, all at the age of 22 with room to grow still.
Konyushkov isn't the most skilled nor most creative player with the puck on his stick, is the proud (?) owner of quite a bit of a muffin shot, and his physical tools/skating are frankly below NHL-average right now.
But Konyushkov's all-around awareness of the game and his defensive IQ are rock-solid, he blocks passing/shooting lanes extremely well, he rarely turns the puck over even under pressure, and he is very good in transition with his first pass out of the zone.
At this point in time it is entirely possible that even if Konyushkov comes over to the NHL that he could completely fail to make a career for himself at the highest level.
But with some progression here and there, a bit more bulking-up physically and cleaning-up of his skating, I could see a world in which Konyushkov develops into a nice defenseman to have in the NHL on a 3rd or perhaps even a 2nd pairing, kind of like a rich man's Mike Weaver.
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Denis Kostin looks like he should be sitting at my Serbian families kitchen table, wearing an Adidas track suit, smoking cigarettes and drinking Red wine and coke.
Bogdan shares the same birthday with former Hab and fellow country man Andrei Markov.
Jurivan Demidovsky
Guest
The guy on the right has 4 lines on his track pants instead of 3.. Baller.
1 lady for 10 men, very slavic
LesCactus
Guest
I hope he makes the team next year. Would love to have a defenseman that focuses mainly on the defensive end.
Konyushkov wouldn't likely want to play AHL, unless he got some provisions baked-in his contract that would see him make more money in the AHL than he currently makes for Torpedo.
Such provisions are very rarely given to players coming over for the first time from Russia, especially since the AHL has rules on limiting the number of 1-way contracts the AHL affiliate to the NHL team can maintain at the same time. The same holds true for the number of veterans, as defined by AHL experience and various other factors including contracts, but that's another story.
So yeah, I think it's either NHL of KHL for Bogdan going forward.
And depending on a couple factors, namely Reinbacher making the team next season, Hughes acquiring more RD depth in 2025-2026, and/or re-signing/extending Matheson for after the 2026 season is done; maybe Konyushkov re-signs with Torpedo and never does come over.
But it would be a bit of a shame in my opinion if Konyushkov never did cross over. I like watching him play, and with some work on specific areas I think Konyushkov could be a good defenseman for us in the NHL.
If Bogdan comes next season, it means he's going to buyout the last year of his contract in the KHL. He's 100% signing an ELC in that case.
A quick glance of this photo and I thought we were seeing Alex Newhook. Maybe they have room for him as well in the KHL?
Imo no.
However, Bogdan has 1 more year on his contract in the KHL..
Sign him, potentially 1 year in the A and then he can replace Carrier if things workout for him.
Konyushkov is listed at 6' on Elite Prospect. Looks light (if that weight is accurate), but gaining muscle mass is easier than height at his age.
