Bogdan Konyushkov
Torpedo Nihzny Novgorod (KHL) | Russia
The season has started well for Konyushkov with four assists in 10 games. He averages 22:30 a night and Torpedo is in second position in the Western Division. He will continue to develop in a role that will benefit the Canadiens in the long run.
Alexander Zharovsky
Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL) | Russia
Zharovsky played his first game with Salavat in the KHL on September 27, eight games into the KHL season. It was a good start for him and the team, as the Montreal prospect finished with a goal and assist. This was followed up on October 1 with another assist in Salavat’s win against Sibir.
Unfortunately for Salavat, the season has started on a low as they reside (at the time of writing) at the bottom of the KHL’s Eastern Division.
Makar Khanin
Dynamo Saint Petersburg (VHL) | Russia
Khanin looked interesting during the Montreal development camp and his shot has always been fast and accurate. But so far, two games in, he has no points for Saint Petersburg’s VHL (second division) team.
It is tough to break into Dynamo Moscow, but it is an important season for Khanin who needs to move up the ladder in order to get a chance to play in North America down the line.
Yevgeni Volokhin
Spartak Moscow (KHL) / Khimik Voskresensk (VHL) | Russia
There have been no games for Volokhin in the KHL so far, but he has looked solid in his VHL outings with Khimik. Over seven games, he has posted a 2.32 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage over a four wins and three losses.
Aatos Koivu
TPS Turku (Liiga) | Finland
Two points in eight games is probably not was Koivu himself expected. It has been tough as TPS has mixed good performances with absolutely horrendous ones.
The good thing is that the main goal for Koivu should be the World Junior Championship in Minnesota. The question is: what will be the best preparation to get there? I expect a leadership role for Koivu on the Finnish team, but confidence might be a bit low if TPS continues its blended hockey project in Liiga.
Koivu has been used up and down the lineup. He gets a decent amount of time, around 13 minutes a game, from his coaches. He is also getting power-play time, it’s just that things don’t come easy for him at the moment. Hopefully the “ketchup effect” will come along soon and that will become the foundation of something for the young Finn to build upon.
Filip Eriksson
Luleå HF (SHL) | Sweden
The season started with a bang for Filip Eriksson and I am sure the move north to the Swedish champions, Luleå, has made a huge difference. The style of play matches his game much better and he was deployed on the top line right from the start.
A hat trick (and an assist) in the opening game against Malmö highlighted the season start. It was followed up by three assists in the second game against Brynäs. However, while production has dried up a bit, it is important to note that the big games has come against teams in the bottom half of the table and Eriksson only has two of his points against teams on the upper half. I expect Eriksson to continue to produce, but the interesting thing is to see how he performs against teams such as Färjestad, Frölunda, Rögle, and his old team, Växjö, that have very strong defences and where time and space will be limited.
Eriksson is currently fifth in points with 10 (4G, 6A) and tied for seventh in goals scored in the SHL.
Rasmus Bergqvist
Skellefteå AIK (SHL) | Sweden
While Eriksson might grab the headlines from media that are stat-watching, I think that the one to keep an eye on in the SHL for Canadiens fans is Rasmus Bergqvist. His game is more suited to the North American game, with his big-sometimes-bruising play to keep opponents out of the crease projects well.
The slow and steady development that Skellefteå is looking to use should be interesting as well.
Bergqvist has played four games with an average ice time of around nine minutes. He has a minus-one rating and Adam Savonen (friend of Eyes On The Prize and Skellefteå AIK beat journalist) mentions that “he is being handled carefully and will add minutes slowly. He is sixth, seventh, eighth among the defenders depending on the day.”
Vinzenz Rohrer
Zürich Lions (National League) | Switzerland
After an impressive camp with the Canadiens where Rohrer proved that he can play on the North American ice sheets, he has returned to Switzerland. It will be interesting to see what role he will get upon his return to the National League and the Zürich Lions.
