Prospect Info: [2024 - 5th] Ivan Motherbleeping Demidov (RW), SKA St. Petersburg (MHL)

[waitin425]

If we are not able to trade for a 2C (upgrade on Dach), I think there is a real possibility Demidov is at center with Dach on his RW. Demidov has the style of game to play center and I think it's something in our back pocket that we won't realize until we see him listed at center for a game one day

I'm good with either. I don't necessarily believe centre is more important than their wingers. Just want players to play where their skills are optimized. If it shakes out as Demi at C and Dach at wing....I am good with that.

I'm still hoping we manage to trade for or sign a 2C this summer. Even with the talent on the wings on that 2nd line I just can't see it being dominant with Dach at C. I wouldn't be shocked at all though if Demidov has cemented himself as one of Suzuki's wingers by the end of next season.

I never say never to any trade or upgrade. Dach is currently playing like a 2C IMO. It hasn't been that way for most of the season though. Im comfortable giving him some more runway, considering his lost year.

What I am really hoping for is Hage steps into the 2nd line centre role in 2-3 years and Dach gets bumped to 3C.

2-3 year future.....

Slaf - Suzuki - Caufield
Laine - Hage - Demidov
Heinemen - Dach - Newhook
Xhekaj - Beck - Kapanen

 

[WeThreeKings]

If we are not able to trade for a 2C (upgrade on Dach), I think there is a real possibility Demidov is at center with Dach on his RW. Demidov has the style of game to play center and I think it's something in our back pocket that we won't realize until we see him listed at center for a game one day

They will not be giving Demidov his first professional reps at center in the NHL in his rookie season. I'd reckon we probably never see him at center outside of extenuating injury circumstances.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

They will not be giving Demidov his first professional reps at center in the NHL in his rookie season. I'd reckon we probably never see him at center outside of extenuating injury circumstances.

If Demidov becomes a superstar center, this team is an instant contender. I hope they give real consideration to experimenting with this. Maybe not in his rookie year but early on.

 

[Habs Halifax]

If Demidov becomes a superstar center, this team is an instant contender. I hope they give real consideration to experimenting with this. Maybe not in his rookie year but early on.

I think they will try him at center but for all we know, they try it in camp and preseason games and change their minds. However, Demidov has the style of game to be a center and he has talked about preferring to be a center as well.

Not like we will be obsessive with it but it's worth trying.

 

[Goalfield13]

If Demidov becomes a superstar center, this team is an instant contender. I hope they give real consideration to experimenting with this. Maybe not in his rookie year but early on.

People are so fast to dismiss Demidov at C.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

People are so fast to dismiss Demidov at C.

I understand the concern. We want a successful jump to the NHL. Easiest way to do that is simplify things. He’s a winger now so we could just play him on the wing.

But he’s said he likes playing center better. He’d be so much more valuable to us there. If he is a true superstar and can play in that spot we become a really strong team. Suddenly we could even put Dach as our third line center…really, really deep. Or Dach could move to the wing which would be okay as well. It just makes the lineup a lot more versatile.

 

[waitin425]

If Demidov becomes a superstar center, this team is an instant contender. I hope they give real consideration to experimenting with this. Maybe not in his rookie year but early on.

What if he becomes a superstar winger a la Kaprizov or Kucherov? Would that not be equally as valuable?

 

[Goalfield13]

I understand the concern. We want a successful jump to the NHL. Easiest way to do that is simplify things. He’s a winger now so we could just play him on the wing.

But he’s said he likes playing center better. He’d be so much more valuable to us there. If he is a true superstar and can play in that spot we become a really strong team. Suddenly we could even put Dach as our third line center…really, really deep. Or Dach could move to the wing which would be okay as well. It just makes the lineup a lot more versatile.

Suzuki played 4th line W and worked his way up. I don't mind starting Demidov at W at all. pigeonholing him as only a W is what I have a problem with.

 

[CaptnNemo]

What if he becomes a superstar winger a la Kaprizov or Kucherov? Would that not be equally as valuable?

Considering Hage could probably become our second center..I'd keep him on the wing but I'm not against the possibility also.

 

[Rapala]

People are so fast to dismiss Demidov at C.

I don't see people doing anything other than having an opinion about what chair he starts in.
Demidov will be starting in the top 6. They will not give him top 6 duties at center not a chance.
If they see Demidov as a future center it's far more likely they would have him work alongside Nick Suzuki at some point beforehand.

 

[Goalfield13]

Considering Hage could probably become our second center..I'd keep him on the wing but I'm not against the possibility also.

So, you are willing to ignore the potential of Demidov at C because Hage could PROBABLY become our second line C? C'mon, man.

I don't see people doing anything other than having an opinion about what chair he starts in.
Demidov will be starting in the top 6. They will not give him top 6 duties at center not a chance.
If they see Demidov as a future center it's far more likely they would have him work alongside Nick Suzuki at some point beforehand.

Right, and people's opinion is to dismiss his potential at C. It's been going on for pages now. As stated, I don't mind him starting at W.

 

[Deebs]

People are so fast to dismiss Demidov at C.

It would be nice if he was actually playing Center so we could see what we have there. Right now, we know he's a dynamic winger that can carry a line. Time will tell

 

[Goalfield13]

It would be nice if he was actually playing Center so we could see what we have there. Right now, we know he's a dynamic winger that can carry a line. Time will tell

SKA would never play him at C. They barely like playing him period.

 

[Deebs]

That's why I said time will tell. Maybe when he comes over here we try him at Center and take it from there.

 

[Rapala]

So, you are willing to ignore the potential of Demidov at C because Hage could PROBABLY become our second line C? C'mon, man.


Right, and people's opinion is to dismiss his potential at C. It's been going on for pages now. As stated, I don't mind him starting at W.

I tend to ignore anyone who dismisses the player's potential out of hand.
If they've seen him play they should see the potential C in him.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

What if he becomes a superstar winger a la Kaprizov or Kucherov? Would that not be equally as valuable?

I wouldn’t be disappointed.

I don’t know enough about this guy to argue for him being center. I’m not going to do that. I won’t say he’s better suited here or there because I haven’t seen enough of him and don’t know enough to make the argument.

All I am saying is that if they determine it’s a viable option then I hope they explore it. If he legit became a superstar center then we become contenders pretty quickly.

We don’t know if he’ll be a star, let alone superstar… this is more speculative/dreamcasting on my part. Him being a center makes Suzuki one of the best 2nd line centers in the league. We have CC, Laine, Slaf and Dach to share on the wings - or Dach becomes third line center and we have incredible depth there… it just really helps us.

 

[Goalfield13]

That's why I said time will tell. Maybe when he comes over here we try him at Center and take it from there.

I wouldn't be surprised if they paired Beck and Demidov together next year, actually. Beck is pretty underrated around here, and I think he could be a good complement to Demidov. They both play a 2-way game as well. I guess this should go in the Beck thread.

I tend to ignore anyone who dismisses the player's potential out of hand.
If they've seen him play they should see the potential C in him.

I like you, Rapala.

 

[ReHabs]

Thank God the Habs didn’t draft Cayden Lindstrom.

Imagine how much it would burn seeing Reinbacher lose a season vs Michkov, Benson, and Leonard’s growth and then also have to sizzle watching Lindstrom miss a whole season vs Demidov torch the KHL. Stuff of nightmares.

 

[Goalfield13]

Thank God the Habs didn’t draft Cayden Lindstrom.

Imagine how much it would burn to seeing Reinbacher lose a season vs Michkov, Benson, and Leonard’s growth and then also have to sizzle watching Lindstrom miss a whole season vs Demidov torch the KHL. Stuff of nightmares.

Imagine how other teams feel about passing on Hutson!

 

[Colezuki]

People are so fast to dismiss Demidov at C.

Can you blame them? We've had numerous attempts at this type of experiment across the years, including galchenyuk and drouin, it's never worked out

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Insert Demidov into this current lineup and push everyone down. My god we are going to have something special here.

Slaf - Suzuki - Caufield
Laine - Dach - Demidov
Anderson - Evans - Newhook
Heinemen - Beck - Gally
Kapanen

This is what I'm hoping for to start next year.

Switch Slaf and Demi. Demi is a bonafide 1st liner. Slaf is a bonified Slackovsky.

 

[Goalfield13]

Can you blame them? We've had numerous attempts at this type of experiment across the years, including galchenyuk and drouin, it's never worked out

Yes, I can blame them. Putting your PTSD from past failures on future players is dumb.

 

[Deebs]

Can you blame them? We've had numerous attempts at this type of experiment across the years, including galchenyuk and drouin, it's never worked out

Vast majority of the time, wingers being converted to Center doesn't work. I also don't mind teams trying it out to find out if it does, causes no harm. Similar to what the Leafs did with Nylander at camp this year. Tried it fo a week, he said no thanks and away they go. No harm, no foul

 

[ReHabs]

Imagine how other teams feel about passing on Hutson!

Hutson’s size means some teams simply didn’t rank him on their draft board. Habs took a gamble and it worked big time, but the league is getting taller, faster, and stronger so size matters when you only have so much confidence in a prospect.

Teams passed on Cole Caufield too. The kid is electric. Some teams still won’t change their draft protocol even despite this miss — because of the size issue.

Can you blame them? We've had numerous attempts at this type of experiment across the years, including galchenyuk and drouin, it's never worked out

Yes exactly. When I see “why don’t we convert X to a a centre” my eyes glaze over and thoughts of Galchenyuk come up.

 

[waitin425]

Switch Slaf and Demi. Demi is a bonified 1st liner. Slaf is a bonified Slackovsky.

Laine - Dach - Slaf would be slow as molasses. Would rather switch Caufield and Demi...but then both of our scoring threats are on one line. What about flipping Suzuki and Dach.

Laine - Suzuki - Demidov
Slaf - Dach - Caufield