The Canadiens may have signed Alexandre Carrier’s future replacement on defense
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Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens have indeed signed an intriguing defenseman.
The comparison is not coming out of nowhere.
Nicolas Cloutier pointed out on X that the two defensemen have very similar playing styles.
Konyushkov has good skating ability and an offensive touch.
He is also responsible in his own zone without being a purely defensive defenseman.
His most recent KHL season produced 38 points in 67 games. A level of production that suggests he could make a legitimate offensive contribution in the NHL.
For now, Konyushkov will return to the KHL on a one-year loan before crossing the Atlantic once his season is over.
This is where Alexandre Carrier enters the picture.
The 29-year-old defenseman recorded 22 points in 73 games last season, along with a +2 rating.
Carrier stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 174 pounds, while Konyushkov is 6-foot-0 and 171 pounds.
Carrier is not a star, and he does not claim to be.
The Quebec native fills a solid and reliable role on the Canadiens’ blue line.
Konyushkov will have to prove he can do the same against faster and more physical competition, but if everything works out, he could eventually replace Alexandre Carrier in that role.
We really like Alex Carrier and hope to see him remain in Montreal for a long time, but we all know things can change extremely quickly in the NHL.
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The Canadiens may have signed Alexandre Carrier’s future replacement on defense
Can Bogdan Konyushkov really become a defenseman as valuable as Alexandre Carrier?