I doubt he busts. Scouting in all sports has improved tremendously overs the years, due in large part to the use of analytics, which seem to be highly predictive of outcome. Doesn’t mean he’ll become a superstar but I think the odds that he’s a productive player are pretty good.
Prospect Info: [2024 - 5th] Ivan Motherbleeping Demidov (RW), SKA St. Petersburg (MHL)
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Demidov is a safe bet to be a star player because his biggest asset is his IQ/creativity
He will have less time and space for his agility and hands, but he thinks the game at such a high level and is creative enough to easily overcome the change imo
Lafleurs Guy
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Slaf.
Honestly, who knows?
One thing's for sure though, fans have wanted a flashy forward for a long time. Hopefully this guy delivers. It's been way too long.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
Skating is elite. That is usually the first thing to look at. His skating alone will help him create time/space.
IQ seems high. This part is important because he will face challenges or hurdles. Got to have the mental compacity to comprehend flaws and overcome. Not many have this and is usually the reason why they bust or disappoint.
Shot and Vision/Play Making are very good.
One area we need to see is how he likes playing with physicality from men (not boys or teenagers). That part is unpredictable but we will get a good sample from the KHL this season. KHL is more physical than MHL.
I for one am very happy he gets to develop in Russia for one more season in the KHL. KHL is a very competitive league
NobleSix
High Tech Low-Life.
I put 91 because no way were moving that Gallagher contract lol
Gallagher could easily retire if he suffers a major injury and his contract ends before he's healthy. I don't think he has any interest in playing for anyone else.
I don't think 11 will be available but both Demidov and Koivu might want it so we'll see how things time out
I don't think 11 will be available but both Demidov and Koivu might want it so we'll see how things time out
- Jun 22, 2018
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He should handle physicality just fine considering his size by the time he is an NHL regular (6ft 1/2in, ~200lbs)
HuGo Burner Acc
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WeThreeKings
Demidov is a HAB
He already doesn't shy away from it. Which is a good sign. I have trouble with those who avoid contact against their own age group, but even in the KHL he would engage physically and get to the front of net as requried.
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With NHL trainers he will be a big(ish), strong forward with elite hands, IQ, and edgework
Just an incredible prospect all around tbh, still can’t get over it
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
Depends on if he likes contact or not. Drouin is 6'-0" and 203 lbs. Not saying Demidov will be soft like that but you just don't know about how they adjust to the physical side. I will reserve judgment on this for a later date. For now, we can only guess. I like his chances to overcome that area but that is just my guess.
With Iggy, I was able to see his ability to overcome tight spaces and contact along the boards. With Demidov's highlight video, it was a lot of open space and Demidov skating around guys like they were kids. I tried to dig into that area more but it's hard to find. Got to watch the games to know that better.
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Absolutely true, but Demidov already doesn’t shy away from the physical side even in the few KHL games he has played
WeThreeKings
Demidov is a HAB
Truly is a dream come true. I still have to check myself that its true and actually happened.
HuGo Burner Acc
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There's good analysis on him vs michkov. Basically the conclusion was michkov is individually more talented than in in various aspects (obviously not all) but when it comes to their play style, demidov is much more translatable than michkov so they ultimately believed demidov will be better even though they thought michkov is a more talented player. I have no worry about how he'll be at the NHL level honestly. He'll probably be 1 of a dozen game breakers in this league that have already been draft or currently play
GlassesJacketShirt
Registered User
For what it's worth, I think it's partially a coincidence as a team like NJ would probably go LD even if some of the others were available, having said such I think GMs always value tools (handedness sometimes a part of this) more than toolbox because they believe the latter can be provided through years of development and reps.
Funny enough, the six d-men were drafted almost in reverse order of my own preferences. You can switch up Silayev and Dickinson or Parekh and Yakemchuk for me.
Speaking of preferences, I can still confirm Demidov is a Hab
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
You seen evidence of that in his 4 KHL games? Please share, I would like to see it
- Jun 22, 2018
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He’s never going to become a power forward or anything, but he doesn’t shy away from contact like a Drouin
Didn’t see anything to suggest the opposite in his 4 KHL games but it is of course a very small sample size
Kennerback
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What i’m sure of is that Torts and Michkov will butt heads. Torts did with LeCavalier when he came in. He won’t like Michkov’s two-way game and play mind games. Michkov is a whole lot more headstrong than Lecavalier.
Redux91
I do Three bullets.
Skip Bayless
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There are shift to shift videos from last year in the KHL on youtube. He doesn’t shy away from board battles, but he does need to work on them legs and that explosiveness to come out of the corner and create separation.
Guess
Registered User
Is anyone else worried that opposing teams will aim for his knees when he's doing the 10-2 skating in the offensive zone?
ReimanSum1908
Registered User
It is not impossible, and all of our high draft picks in the decade prior to Slafkovsky have busted.
My concerns regarding Demidov are less than those that I had with Kotkaniemi because the former was not an unexpected reach based in part on position and need, but until they hit NHL ice, every prospect is worthy of cautious optimism.
With Demidov, fundamentals of his game that should translate well to the NHL - IQ, Vision, shot - are more refined, and there are no injury uncertainties or, as far as we and Bobrov, who has been familiar with him for years, toxic family influences. Those alone separate him from Galchenyuk and Kotkaniemi.
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They’re gonna have a very hard time catching him, he moves like Cale Makar on the blue line but does it in the slot
Supersonic
Registered User
What a turn of events
All the bitching and moaning last year especially down the stretch about the Habs making every “meaningless” game “our Stanley cup”
WELL WE GOT OUR GUY
IT WAS ALL WORTH IT
and now he’ll eventually be joining a team with a winning mentality that doesn’t pout, give up, check out…just incredible stuff for HuGo to work with. We may not make the playoffs next year, but this team is gonna have that dawg in them when they do.
All the bitching and moaning last year especially down the stretch about the Habs making every “meaningless” game “our Stanley cup”
WELL WE GOT OUR GUY
IT WAS ALL WORTH IT
and now he’ll eventually be joining a team with a winning mentality that doesn’t pout, give up, check out…just incredible stuff for HuGo to work with. We may not make the playoffs next year, but this team is gonna have that dawg in them when they do.
