Prospect Info: [2024 - 5th] Ivan Motherbleeping Demidov (RW), SKA St. Petersburg (MHL)
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Jack Skellington
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- Sep 29, 2017
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Yeah the leagues are quite deep. Alot of guys Demidov played against this past year and went undrafted will be very good NHLers down the line, maybe even stars, but have zero hype right now.
Kudo Shinichi
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that's good to hear.
destroying the VHL wouldn't be the ideal situation but I'm confident he can be good enough to be impossible to bury.
nhlfan9191
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I’d rather Demidov be in the CHL learning the North American game and adjusting to the long schedule and lifestyle then stuck in a second tier league that still thinks it can compete with the NHL. I don’t think it’s going to kill a player this talented but it is a bit of a bum deal that we don’t have control over a prospect taken 5th overall for at least a year during a primitive development year. This was a talking point with Michkov last year as well although there’s differences in each situation. It just seems like the KHL is becoming more of an annoyance that certain teams don’t want to deal with when it comes to prospects.
Zine
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He’s too good to be playing against kids.
Demidov is a smart guy. He’s taking this year to grow in a comfortable setting while playing/practicing against men, albeit KHL or VHL.
Then off to the NHL next season.
My only worry is joker Rotenberg.
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Jag68Sid87
Sullivan gots to go!
It was obvious from early on that Demidov was going to get "punished" by SKA when it became clear of his intentions to play in the NHL as soon as his contract was up. SO, the NHL team that drafted him knew this going in. It might even be a reason why he was even available at five.
Another season in the MHL or a loan-out to the VHL was always going to be the outcome here. SKA never intended to sign Kuznetsov to play with Demidov. But it may have been with the intention to drop Demidov further down their depth chart.
The kid has to buy out his own contract if he really wants to come to NA, so it is unlikely. He would probably be in Laval anyway, so it probably does not make financial sense for him. Does a season in the VHL hurt his chances of being ready for Montreal in 2025-26? Maybe. But I think the Canadiens (now) know how to handle young players, so I don't think it (where he plays this season) will ultimately be a big deal.
Another season in the MHL or a loan-out to the VHL was always going to be the outcome here. SKA never intended to sign Kuznetsov to play with Demidov. But it may have been with the intention to drop Demidov further down their depth chart.
The kid has to buy out his own contract if he really wants to come to NA, so it is unlikely. He would probably be in Laval anyway, so it probably does not make financial sense for him. Does a season in the VHL hurt his chances of being ready for Montreal in 2025-26? Maybe. But I think the Canadiens (now) know how to handle young players, so I don't think it (where he plays this season) will ultimately be a big deal.
Redux91
I do Three bullets.
Feel exactly the same way, Verbatim
Good post
If he can be allowed to play in the VHL for an entire year I believe that won't be the end of the world. He isn't get top minutes in the KHL.
He can’t even make the lines for scrimmage. Not a good start
Adam Michaels
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As long as he doesn't go back to MHL. I'd prefer KHL, and he could very well play there. But VHL is good with me, too.
13th forward? Laugh out loud funny, but predictable and typical.
I have no idea what was discussed between Habs management and Rotenberg, but this is less than ideal.
WeThreeKings
Demidov is a HAB
They won't keep him there if he's a 13th forward a month in and not sent back to VHL.
HabbyGuy
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What happened to the wonderful conversation between Hughes and Rotenberg and the development of Demidov? It just seemed like a couple weeks ago where it looked promising for the KHL.
I just don't understand the political BS of SKA with players of the ilk of Michkov and Demidov. It makes no sense. Why wouldn't you want these types on your roster?
It's so annoying.
- Jun 22, 2018
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SKA coach and brass take issue with having young players who are being developed for the NHL
Kind of a “if I can’t have you, nobody can” mentality
It sucks
HabbyGuy
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Walksss
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- Mar 26, 2013
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Overreactions galore in this thread. You guys have no idea how the depth chart will play out in the KHL this year but you're assuming you do.
You think Demidov is gonna come out in an interview and say 'I'm gonna play in the top 6 in the KHL'? Even if he's been told otherwise he's gonna stay humble and tell the media absolutely nothing obviously.
The truth is I'm sure he doesn't know yet, it will have to play out in preseason and their training camp.
You think Demidov is gonna come out in an interview and say 'I'm gonna play in the top 6 in the KHL'? Even if he's been told otherwise he's gonna stay humble and tell the media absolutely nothing obviously.
The truth is I'm sure he doesn't know yet, it will have to play out in preseason and their training camp.
- Jun 22, 2018
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Weird because it seems like there are almost no overreactions here, just people saying it’s not ideal for him to be a 13th fwd in the KHL
One of the more level headed discussions I have seen tbh
HabbyGuy
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I'd tend to agree about the overreaction part if we haven't witnessed the same BS with a prospect as highly touted as Michkov already, who btw had a 3 year contract in tow to stay in Russia at the time. It seems illogical to me to turn away talents such as him and Demidov no matter how long they'll be there.
Wouldn't you prefer just to ice the better players? Their handling of Michkov has never made sense to me.
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Walksss
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I think penciling him in as the 13th forward with nothing but speculation is overreacting I guess.
Of course it's not ideal if that happens, I don't think you could find a single person to argue that. I'm just saying that we actually have zero indication of anything except that the SKA brass had a positive 2 hour phone call with the Habs management which seems to me that they're on the same page.
I highly doubt some 19 year old is gonna waltz in and get top line minutes but he'll hopefully be given an opportunity to earn his icetime and that's all we can ask for.
Zine
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'Anti-NHL politics' is just part of the equation for Rotenberg. If it was only politics Nikishin and Gritsyuk would be buried.
Rotenberg just strongly prefers vets, no matter how talented junior players are.
Michkov, Buchelnikov, Koromyslov, Ivanov are some other young guys who *should* be playing but are/were loaned out. Instead Roten will throw unlimited money at whatever big name player he can get his hands on.
It leads to very deep rosters but very disjointed teams. No wonder they havent won shit in years.
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- Jun 22, 2018
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To be fair Nikishin has been there for half a decade almost, much different than 1 year of Demidov
Zine
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???
This is Nikishin's 3rd year on SKA. Gritsyuk's 2nd. Both are going to the NHL next year.
