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

[The Last Red]

It's just going to be a treat to be able to watch entertaining hockey again. Long time coming!!

But, but . . . Michkov is better.

 

[KevSkillz4]

But, but . . . Michkov is better.

Not sure about that!

We will see.

 

[KevSkillz4]

It's maybe been 2 weeks, but I still can't believe.

I really liked Tij Iginla before the draft, but
never ahead of Demidov. We have Ivan freaking Drago, Demidov.

Amazing 2 weeks to become a Habs fan, I'm still so happy guys!!

 

[NobleSix]

It's maybe been 2 weeks, but I still can't believe.

I really liked Tij Iginla before the draft, but
never ahead of Demidov. We have Ivan freaking Drago, Demidov.

Amazing 2 weeks to become a Habs fan, I'm still so happy guys!!

He's the single best prospect we've draft since Lafleur. And no... I didn't forget about Richer and LeClair.

 

[Zilo44]

Best young player to set foot in Quebec since Peter Stastny

 

[MeanMugging91]

Best young player to set foot in Quebec since Peter Stastny

And he hasn't even set foot yet. That's quite the accomplishment

 

[26Mats]

But, but . . . Michkov is better.

Or Demidov AND Michkov is better than Demidov and Reinbacher? We'll see in time what the answer to that question is.

 

[Jaynki]

We can't be too high too fast too soon with the guy, we've been hurt in the past and you know I'm right. So time for some healthy temperance.

Its always good to keep temperance and healthy expectations but its sports after all and if we cant get high with a prospects like Demidov then we just might as well never get excited by any prospects.

 

[OB5]

Demidov!

 

[26Mats]

I remembered liking him a lot at the U18s and Hlinka tournament, when following the draft for 2011 and 2012, Russia had one of the best U18 back then and the most talked about were Mikhail Grigorenko and Nail Yakupov, and Kucherov was often overlooked but he ended up dominating the tournament the most, record just broken by Hagens.

Not gonna lie, my process has always been reading especially here on HFBoards, youtube highlights videos (didn't have shift by shift videos back then) and any televised or streamed international tournaments. I made a Craig Button of myself and really was hyped by Kucherov at the U18s.

I just looked back at this official HFBoards Prospect Thread and I was discussing already in the first few pages and getting backlash hahaha But good talks and other posters also saw great potential in him. Craig Button had him 18th overall in May 2011. After seeing him at U18 and his skill level and how he read the plays, he was just an executioner. Deadly. And, rumours of him going to Quebec in the CHL Import Draft to play with Grigorenko (who I liked a lot back then too) made me followed Kucherov even more.

View attachment 894848

View attachment 894849
Loved these highlights videos with emo music! LFG!



And, what all of that being said… I am even more excited about Ivan Demidov!!! Much more dynamic than Kucherov at the same age. I think the sky is the limit for Demidov. We are extremely lucky and just so much to look forward to. With adding another top prospect in 2025 too.

Yes, I'm really excited about Demidov. I can't help but ask, what did you and do you think about Michkov? I wonder if we shouldn't have added both. Ultimately, for sure time will give us the answer. But I'm glad we'll be able to see Demidov play with Hutson, Suzuki, Slaf, Dach, and Caufield.

 

[Jabba11]

Yes, I'm really excited about Demidov. I can't help but ask, what did you and do you think about Michkov? I wonder if we shouldn't have added both. Ultimately, for sure time will give us the answer. But I'm glad we'll be able to see Demidov play with Hutson, Suzuki, Slaf, Dach, and Caufield.

During last year's lead up to the draft, I have always voiced out that I truly believe Michkov was on the same level as Connor Bedard when they faced each other. Everytime you would watch a Canada-Russia game at the U18 or even the start of the U20 before they closed for COVID, Michkov was relentless, was a gamer, a pitbull and doghound. He would never back down from confrontation and adversity. Bedard would score 1 goal, Michkov would score 1 too. His team was behind against Canada, and he would step up and try to equalize and tie it up. I will always remember his hit on Simon Edvindsson who's 6ft7 or something.

He was my top prospect for the Habs after Bedard. I think that ultimately what us fans don't see and don't get to understand is that NHL teams and their scouting staff get to know the prospects better than us, on and off the ice. Ultimately, I think that there were some aspect of maybe his game, his personality that lead the Habs to skip over him as they didn't see a fit with the core of what they are trying to build.

I also think it would be hard for us to be truly competitive and contending in playoffs with 2 sub 5ft10 forwards in Caufield and Michkov. And adding a sub 5ft10 Hutson on the back end. I think ultimately, HuGo made the right choice in Reinbacher and Demidov. Demidov for me is more dynamic than Michkov, better passing, better edge work but Michkov has a better shot, a deadly shot. But I think it will come down to Demidov may be more mature and has a stronger personality for Montreal.

 

[The Last Red]

Not sure about that!

We will see.

It was a joke.

 

[electron58]

But, but . . . Michkov is better.

When asked that exact question, Demidov did not commit one way or the other.

 

[26Mats]

During last year's lead up to the draft, I have always voiced out that I truly believe Michkov was on the same level as Connor Bedard when they faced each other. Everytime you would watch a Canada-Russia game at the U18 or even the start of the U20 before they closed for COVID, Michkov was relentless, was a gamer, a pitbull and doghound. He would never back down from confrontation and adversity. Bedard would score 1 goal, Michkov would score 1 too. His team was behind against Canada, and he would step up and try to equalize and tie it up. I will always remember his hit on Simon Edvindsson who's 6ft7 or something.

He was my top prospect for the Habs after Bedard. I think that ultimately what us fans don't see and don't get to understand is that NHL teams and their scouting staff get to know the prospects better than us, on and off the ice. Ultimately, I think that there were some aspect of maybe his game, his personality that lead the Habs to skip over him as they didn't see a fit with the core of what they are trying to build.

I also think it would be hard for us to be truly competitive and contending in playoffs with 2 sub 5ft10 forwards in Caufield and Michkov. And adding a sub 5ft10 Hutson on the back end. I think ultimately, HuGo made the right choice in Reinbacher and Demidov. Demidov for me is more dynamic than Michkov, better passing, better edge work but Michkov has a better shot, a deadly shot. But I think it will come down to Demidov may be more mature and has a stronger personality for Montreal.

I don't see it as Michkov or Demidov. We will add many players over the years. So I see it as Michkov vs. Reinbacher. We had the choice of who to add and we chose Reinbacher. Right now, I don't know which would have been better. I suspect they made the decision personality/character, hockey (small and not that fast), and fit (we already have Caufield in the top 6).

 

[SwiftyHab]

Do we know anything about SKA development camp that opened today?

 

[Kennerback]

Or Demidov AND Michkov is better than Demidov and Reinbacher? We'll see in time what the answer to that question is.

In a non-cap world you can throw more money, pile on more skill and character issues can be diluted. If money is no issue, you can add a Toews or Bergeron like player to Matthews, Marner, Nylander and Tavares and better your chances at the Cup. In a cap world, you need to put more effort in figuring out the right mix. Without Demidov, Michkov would be worth the risk for me. With Demidov, it becomes touchy. Is the team better with Michkov or investing in a higher quality supporting cast to surround our current core?

 

[26Mats]

In a non-cap world you can throw more money, pile on more skill and character issues can be diluted. If money is no issue, you can add a Toews or Bergeron like player to Matthews, Marner, Nylander and Tavares and better your chances at the Cup. But you need to figure out the right mix with the cap. Without Demidov, Michkov would be worth the risk for me. With Demidov, it becomes touchy. Is the team better with Michkov or investing in a higher quality supporting cast to surround our current core?

I'm happy with Reinbacher and Hage. But given our struggles with offense for many many years, I'm happy adding offense players even to the point where we have too many. Then, once you get to that point (where "too many" good offensive players have actually hit a point in their development curve where they're really good offensive players and we have too many) you can choose which ones to keep and which ones to move. I would have been fine with too many offensive weapons in Demidov, Michkov, and Eiserman, and then making moves in the future to balance out the lineup.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1811162610915745984

Kind of cooled a bit on him but he could be an absolute beauty. I don’t know about wanting him over Demidov but Tij has a pretty insane shot.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

But, but . . . Michkov is better.

I know this is a joke but the little I saw of Michkov, I wasn’t that impressed. When he’s on he looked like Patty Kane but there just seemed like too many question marks for me to want him over Reinbacher. And yes I wanted Rein before the draft.

Demidov on the other hand I was blown away with but thought there was no way he’d fall to us.

Michkov could be better but I certainly wouldn’t bet on it. Demidov and Hutson are gonna have opposing teams falling all over themselves. Only to have that lumbering yesterday’s news oaf Slafkovsky running over the remaining defenders still on their feet. Then you have those other bums Suzuki, Caufield and Dach to feast on the scraps. Plus Guhle, Reinbacher, Xhekaj bros., Hage, Roy, Newhook, Beck, Mailloux etc., etc.

 

[Kennerback]

I know this is a joke but the little I saw of Michkov, I wasn’t that impressed. When he’s on he looked like Patty Kane but there just seemed like too many question marks for me to want him over Reinbacher. And yes I wanted Rein before the draft.

Demidov on the other hand I was blown away with but thought there was no way he’d fall to us.

Michkov could be better but I certainly wouldn’t bet on it. Demidov and Hutson are gonna have opposing teams falling all over themselves. Only to have that lumbering yesterday’s news oaf Slafkovsky running over the remaining defenders still on their feet. Then you have those other bums Suzuki, Caufield and Dach to feast on the scraps. Plus Guhle, Reinbacher, Xhekaj bros., Hage, Roy, Newhook, Beck, Mailloux etc., etc.

Michkov actually reminds me a lot of Brière. Similar size. A lot of goals coming directly from tapping in pucks around the crease.

 

[26Mats]

Kind of cooled a bit on him but he could be an absolute beauty. I don’t know about wanting him over Demidov but Tij has a pretty insane shot.

Every GM is saying they got the player they want. Ir may be true, as lists differ. But I think HuGo would have been happy with Lindstrom, Senecke, or Iginla.

 

[SlafySZN]

Every GM is saying they got the player they want. Ir may be true, as lists differ. But I think HuGo would have been happy with Lindstrom, Senecke, or Iginla.

Demidov was clearly the guy they wanted even going back to last summer, already talking about Demidov when the conversations were on Michkov. And they very clearly knew the one thing we missed was a game breaker, elite offensive talent. Lindstrom, Sennecke, Iginla would've been okay but they're not that so I don't think they would've been as happy.

 

[Jaynki]

Every GM is saying they got the player they want. Ir may be true, as lists differ. But I think HuGo would have been happy with Lindstrom, Senecke, or Iginla.

GM want specific player relative to their spot tho and its quite possible the first 7 exactly got their guys.

Demidov was clearly the guy they wanted even going back to last summer, already talking about Demidov when the conversations were on Michkov. And they very clearly knew the one thing we missed was a game breaker, elite offensive talent.

2$ that the debate surrounding the 2023 draft will age similarly to the debate we were having on Slaf, his weak D+1 and botched development, and the 2022 draft.

 

[cphabs]

Its always good to keep temperance and healthy expectations but its sports after all and if we cant get high with a prospects like Demidov then we just might as well never get excited by any prospects.

Fantastic post! Bravo!

 

[Rapala]

Not a medical professional….but no doubt arthroscopic surgery would’ve lengthened Orr’s career but pro hockey players now train year round vs Lafleur puffing cigarettes in between periods.

I’m sure Demigod’s off ice training regiment is quite extensive w focus around strengthening knee structure support systems given edgework is paramount to high end player success & specifically his game

What he really needs is the Marty St Louis school of thigh and calf development.
I was joking about it before the draft if we were lucky enough to get him.
Marty would pull him aside and whisper in his ear "I have a training regimen for you"