Under the Radar
March 26, 2024
By Bob Trask
Dmitri Kostenko is a RD prospect who was selected in the 3rd round of the 2021 entry draft by the Montreal Canadiens. He is a 6-1 190 lb. defenseman with some offensive skill and while still only 21 years old, he has already played over 200 games of pro hockey in Russia. The Canadiens have until June 1st of next year to sign him to a contract or lose his rights. He is only 3 months older than Bogdan Konyushkov, the Russian defenseman the Canadiens drafted last year. Despite scoring 30 points including 13 goals in 54 games this season, he remains a longshot to earn that contract. But it is impossible to definitively say what the Canadiens’ brain trust is thinking. With more than a year left before a decision needs to be made, he remains a prospect worth monitoring. – Trask