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

[Andrei79]

Difference as of right now is CKA seems to want Michkov to play for anyone but them.

It's so strange. This is the first time I've seen a KHL club, nevermind SKA, care so little for a player, much less a high profile player. They signed him to a huge deal only to make him play elsewhere three years straight. And we basically have no confirmation why that is.

 

[JoelWarlord]

Yes and Szemberg, in another tweet, said this doesn’t exist. Which throws his credibility into the gutter.

I don't mean to defend the guy and I don't really know anything about him but I presumed he meant it's not allowed for KHL players, which is either true or was true until a few weeks ago.

Yes I’m aware — I think the KHL and NHL couldn’t come to terms on the fee. KHL wanted variable to-be-negotiated fees (like with the soccer market) and the NHL wanted a flat fee.

Fair enough, I just saw the mention of the Leo Carlsson situation which has nothing to do with whether or not KHL transfer fees are permitted under the CBA so I was just responding to that specific point.

 

[HuGort]

It looked it worked for Slafkovsky and signing Reinbacher and playing him in Laval would have been the better choice too. There's something to be said about having control over a player's deployment. I'd even say the Reinbacher experiment of last season soured Hughes quite a bit on the whole business of trusting other professional teams with the Habs biggest assets

Also, the Habs could chose to go a similar route to what was chosen for Leo Carlsson last season; have him in the NHL, but rest him more as the season goes on to keep him fresh. That's what I would do if I could chose: play him 50-60 games with some rest inbetween and more emphasis on some physical training while spending the whole season on the Habs

Why take risk on such high skill. Demidov only ever played in weak junior league.

 

[HABitual Fan]

My understanding is that you can only buyout your contract in the KHL if it is not the final year like Michkov. Demidov is not eligible because only one year is left on his.

 

[The Last Red]

Would be exciting if the Habs brought him over this year. But, I would like to see him in training camp before deciding between Laval and the big club. Assuming they bring him, over I wouldn't want any promises made that its with the big club. Controlling whatever development he needs will be key.

The problem with the AHL option is the “cheap shot” artist factor.

 

[Tyson]

The problem with the AHL option is the “cheap shot” artist factor.

Laval has signed one of the toughest fighters in the AHL for that reason. Remember they have Hutson who might see AHL time.
Vincent Arseneau

 

[vokiel]

My understanding is that you can only buyout your contract in the KHL if it is not the final year like Michkov. Demidov is not eligible because only one year is left on his.

Yeah seen it mentioned a bit everywhere. Habs don't have any control over what will happen. It'll be KHL or VHL it seems.

 

[SwiftyHab]

Can someone Google SKA’s training camp and exhibition schedule so we can start to watch and get a timeline as to whether Demidov makes the team? This will give us a good sense of whether the Habs brass will try and bring him over

 

[Sorinth]

There would not be any transfer fees paid by Montreal though. Demidov would be paying a fee to terminate his contract. People must be gullible if they think rich people can't manipulate numbers to make things appear to be what they are not. It's more than likely very easy for a rich NHL owner to pay that fee in the name of the player while making it look like the player himself paid it. And i doubt the NHL would care much as long as it's not official. Rich people manipulate numbers to avoid taxes all the time. They pay people full time to do it.

Given all the sanctions in place I would imagine it's not actually all that easy for an NHL team to actually send money to Russia.

And the NHL very much cares about teams paying for things in the players name since it would make the salary cap meaningless if teams could pay for anything in the players name why not buy a mansion off book for the player so that they save millions of dollars.

 

[morhilane]

And the NHL very much cares about teams paying for things in the players name since it would make the salary cap meaningless if teams could pay for anything in the players name why not buy a mansion off book for the player so that they save millions of dollars.

It's considered cap circumvention by the CBA already.

The only options are Demidov buying back the last year of his contract with his own money (even if he didn't op for it and haven't done so yet??) or SKA agreeing to terminate his contract.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

If Demidov's contract gets terminated and comes over, I think he will be playing in the AHL unless he has a great camp.

 

[salbutera]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1815433827575070920

Of course it won’t be a direct transfer payment from Habs to SKA, but there are other avenues of indirect reimbursement ..

 

[Tyson]

We all better get use to Demidov playing in the VHL this season. I am surprised he didn't play in that league last season actually.

 

[Leto]

We all better get use to Demidov playing in the VHL this season. I am surprised he didn't play in that league last season actually.

He played a single game in the VHL and he looked really good. That play of him jumping over the sliding D-man is brilliant (see the video at 16:27).​

 

[Habs]

Why take risk on such high skill. Demidov only ever played in weak junior league.

so did Auston Matthews , Zurich lol. Not sure it matters all that much

 

[Redux91]

If Demidov's contract gets terminated and comes over, I think he will be playing in the AHL unless he has a great camp.

Honestly
I just don't see how he isn't the 3rd or 4th best Montreal Canadien already lol, no joke
But personally I'm not opposed to him staying 1 more year in Russia either
It's all good either way

 

[HankyZetts]

It's so strange. This is the first time I've seen a KHL club, nevermind SKA, care so little for a player, much less a high profile player. They signed him to a huge deal only to make him play elsewhere three years straight. And we basically have no confirmation why that is.

They said it was due to his father's death they are trying to do right by the player, no?

 

[MoneyManny]

Everytime we did this past has been massive mistake. And everytime posters on this board said this time it would be different. It never was. Kotkaniemi, Wickenheiser, Galchenyuk. Don't rush them and play with their confidence. Let them develop properly. Lafleur was 23 before he developed.

Both KK and Galch had their best seasons with the Habs if i remember correctly. It's not on the Habs if they peaked early and never became stars. It would be very different if they went to another club and actually developed there.

I think you're stressing for nothing.

 

[WeThreeKings]

They said it was due to his father's death they are trying to do right by the player, no?

That was their quote but he died during his draft year and they still loaned him out to Sochi last year, and the deal is if he doesn't make the NHL that he would be loaned out again in the KHL.

 

[MoneyManny]

It looked it worked for Slafkovsky and signing Reinbacher and playing him in Laval would have been the better choice too. There's something to be said about having control over a player's deployment. I'd even say the Reinbacher experiment of last season soured Hughes quite a bit on the whole business of trusting other professional teams with the Habs biggest assets

Also, the Habs could chose to go a similar route to what was chosen for Leo Carlsson last season; have him in the NHL, but rest him more as the season goes on to keep him fresh. That's what I would do if I could chose: play him 50-60 games with some rest inbetween and more emphasis on some physical training while spending the whole season on the Habs

Almost as if tiger cubs will grow into tigers regardless of their upbringing right?

I find it a lot easier to believe that we drafted like clowns for a long time than we somehow completely ruined the careers of otherwise surefire superstars by letting them play in the NHL.

Just look at KK. Guy has no part of a star in him and he's been with a good franchise for a while.

 

[waffledave]

If Demidov has 1 year left and SKA has no intention of playing him in the KHL then why wouldn't they agree to terminate his contract? It saves then money. He's gone next year regardless.

 

[Redux91]

If Demidov has 1 year left and SKA has no intention of playing him in the KHL then why wouldn't they agree to terminate his contract? It saves then money. He's gone next year regardless.

Save money + Gain money
It'd be cool to pull off somehow
Lord knows we got the cash.

 

[Kennerback]

If Demidov has 1 year left and SKA has no intention of playing him in the KHL then why wouldn't they agree to terminate his contract? It saves then money. He's gone next year regardless.

Aside from a player paying back the 2/3 left to break the contract in the KHL rules, there’s a clause that says the team and the player can agree to break it up with the payment of a different amount. SKA wants money. Money talks.

PS: someone kindly tell me where this “no buying out the last year of a contract” comes from, aside from message board posts, I can’t find any tangible source. Tks.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Honestly
I just don't see how he isn't the 3rd or 4th best Montreal Canadien already lol, no joke
But personally I'm not opposed to him staying 1 more year in Russia either
It's all good either way

I highly doubt he would be that good if he plays in the nhl this season. The MHL to NHL jump is probably the highest ever done, and Demidov didn't even get a proper summer of training since he's been injured.

I wouldn't expect more than 3rd line level production.

 

[waffledave]

Save money + Gain money
It'd be cool to pull off somehow
Lord knows we got the cash.

Aside from a player paying back the 2/3 left to break the contract in the KHL rules, there’s a clause that says the team and the player can agree to break it up with the payment of a different amount. SKA wants money. Money talks.

PS: someone kindly tell me where this “no buying out the last year of a contract” comes from, aside from message board posts, I can’t find any tangible source. Tks.

Even without paying them off, I don't see why they would keep him and pay him for no reason. It's a total waste of money to keep him and pay him a year if he isn't in the KHL. Just agree to terminate and save the money. It's not like he's re-signing.