With the 87th overall pick in the last draft, the Canadiens may have found a gem. With this selection, Montreal has set its sights on offensive defenseman Dmitri Kostenko.
If there is one player selected by the Habs in the 2021 draft that is intriguing, it is him. Kostenko is currently playing with Khimik Voskresensk of the VHL, Russia's second division. What this tells us is that Kostenko has taken a big step in his development this year. In three games with his team, he has two goals and two assists for a total of four points, including those two cannonballs:
Because of his offensive skills, some even believe he won't spend the entire season in the minors. He could eventually be recalled to the KHL by Spartak Moskva, the team that owns his rights. If he continues on this path, we could see him playing high level hockey very soon. He will need to improve his decision making in the defensive zone, but Kostenko is a very nice project for the Montreal Canadiens. Let's be patient.