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

[Habssince89]

Demidov should be playing with the habs best forwards

Eventually, but he should be come into the NHL with some insulation and let him go after the Calder against weaker competition. If he's hitting his full potential from that start, then yeah get him with Suzuki, but let's not disturb the top line as we need both CC and Slaf to keep upping their point totals and really establish themselves as PPG players. Also, let's not forget that Dach has shown he can be the best player on the Habs on many nights. He's a great C for Demidov to play with. Size, skill, and a RH/LH combo for double one timers.

Imo, NHL Demidov won't be attempting to dangle around whole teams every shift like in does in the MHL, I don't think that would work in the higher levels, but when he's going to have to beat that one guy to open up space for him or his teammates, I'm confident he'll be able to do it with consistency and ease.

He's definitely going to have to get faster/more explosive though, but I have no doubt he'll be able to have adequate speed to play his game in the NHL.

Everything I read about him seems to mention how he's very intentional with his moves, and I imagine that a high IQ player like that would adjust his risks and not make more moves than necessary. Once he's more explosive like you said, he'll be able to be more evasive without doing jr level harlem globetrotter things.

 

[The Last Red]

More like can we give some love to CHI, ANA and CLB for passing on Demidov. Celine Dion could have made that pick without being given the notes it was so obvious.

True . . . but she killed it. The pauses were brilliant. And I hate her music but she was great. If they weren’t drafting Dems, would they have still used her?

 

[MasterD]

True . . . but she killed it. The pauses were brilliant. And I hate her music but she was great. If they weren’t drafting Dems, would they have still used her?

What do you think they would have done? "Yeah Céline? Change of plans, we don't need you, back to your hotel"

 

[The Last Red]

What do you think they would have done? "Yeah Céline? Change of plans, we don't need you, back to your hotel"

She lives in Vegas.

 

[TT1]

I can't wait to see Slaf/Suzuki/Demidov in action, they're gonna be so good together. You could run Caufield/Newhook/Dach together on the 2nd line or Caufield/Dach/Roy.

 

[InglewoodJack]

True . . . but she killed it. The pauses were brilliant. And I hate her music but she was great. If they weren’t drafting Dems, would they have still used her?

Better way to look at it isn’t that she was picked because we were taking Demidov- Demidov was made available to us because we invited the patron saint of our nation to announce the pick, and so the gods had no choice but to gift him to us.

 

[Jabba11]

So, what would be Demidov's former Hockeysfuture grade?

I'd say: 9.0B

"The number means their potential, how good they might be. 10 = once in a decade player. 9 = franchise 8 = 1st liner etc. The Letter is the likelyhood of them reacing their potential. A = Almost a certainty B = Likely Etc."

"Sidney Crosby is a 10.0 C, Ovechkin a 9.0 A and Malkin a 9.0 B"

 

[Skip Bayless]

So, what would be Demidov's former Hockeysfuture grade?

I'd say: 9.0B

"The number means their potential, how good they might be. 10 = once in a decade player. 9 = franchise 8 = 1st liner etc. The Letter is the likelyhood of them reacing their potential. A = Almost a certainty B = Likely Etc."

"Sidney Crosby is a 10.0 C, Ovechkin a 9.0 A and Malkin a 9.0 B"

8.5B

 

[Kennerback]

So, what would be Demidov's former Hockeysfuture grade?

I'd say: 9.0B

"The number means their potential, how good they might be. 10 = once in a decade player. 9 = franchise 8 = 1st liner etc. The Letter is the likelyhood of them reacing their potential. A = Almost a certainty B = Likely Etc."

"Sidney Crosby is a 10.0 C, Ovechkin a 9.0 A and Malkin a 9.0 B"

9.0 A. High likelyhood of reaching his potential. More than Malkin just after the draft. Malkin had question marks, he had to play some time in the RSL before he became an A.
As for Ovechkin, he's on a tightrope between 9.0 and 10.0.

 

[HomaridII]

Ivan Demidov - A dynamic superstar

A Demigod amongst men

sammcgilligan.substack.com

Leaving this here as it deals with my favourite part of demidov’s game, his skating style. I can’t wait to see it game after game. It explains why demidov is the first prospect to perfect the “Mohawk” skating style and why:

“if it all works out, he can push whatever team he plays for down a path that may just change the game forever.”

 

[KevSkillz4]

The

So, what would be Demidov's former Hockeysfuture grade?

I'd say: 9.0B

"The number means their potential, how good they might be. 10 = once in a decade player. 9 = franchise 8 = 1st liner etc. The Letter is the likelyhood of them reacing their potential. A = Almost a certainty B = Likely Etc."

"Sidney Crosby is a 10.0 C, Ovechkin a 9.0 A and Malkin a 9.0 B"

I really miss that hockeysfuture grade. But DobberProspect put fantasy and NHL grade also, not bad at all.

I would put Demidov 9,0 B.

I speak about my love about the draft and not just because I'm a Habs fan, Demidov is such a amazing player. His hockey IQ are unreal. Every league he will play, he will be a amazing hockey player no matter what. His hockey IQ, hands, passing ability are these best assets.

I'm in shock to have that type of talent with Habs.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Malkin was the best prospect I had ever seen (I wasn't in the habit of watching prospects play in the 1990s).

Comparing Demidov to him is a high bar.

His Lemieux-esque profile would have put him easily 1st overall in 2024 in my book.

 

[Erika]

I still can’t believe we got him. Probably our best pick since Guy in ‘71 as as Wickenheiser unfortunately busted and Juraj is just not him.

What do you mean by Juraj is just not him ? I think you are underestimating our franchise player. The beast is already him.

 

[Kennerback]

Malkin was the best prospect I had ever seen (I wasn't in the habit of watching prospects play in the 1990s).

In my case I don't mean that Demidov is better than Malkin at this point in time, I'm even far from convinced that his upside is quite as high as Malkin's. It's just that I'm more confident that Demidov really is who he seems to be.

As for Malkin, I didn't see him in the RSL but I remember that it's really mid-season in D+2 while still playing in Russia that the hockey world became sure he would be a top player in the NHL. I feel that way already about Demidov.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Best Habs forwards are
C Suzuki
C Dach
LW Caufield
RW Slaf

RW Demidov

They'll make it work

I’m hoping Roy joins that group.

 

[montreal]

Goal 3:11
Nice Redirect Pass 7:02
Breakaway 8:19
Almost Goal 9:31
Assist 11:17
Assist 15:38 (goal was scored during replay)

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

True . . . but she killed it. The pauses were brilliant. And I hate her music but she was great. If they weren’t drafting Dems, would they have still used her?

She is very ill and the pauses were very poorly timed and awkward but I believe that was a result of her illness and her fighting through the pain and I thought it was a very sweet moment that maybe many people did not understand.

I am not a fan of her music but I really felt for her up there trying her best to maintain her dignity.

 

[Sorinth]

Demidov should be playing with the habs best forwards

It's usually best to spread the offence among multiple lines.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I can't wait to see Slaf/Suzuki/Demidov in action, they're gonna be so good together. You could run Caufield/Newhook/Dach together on the 2nd line or Caufield/Dach/Roy.

It's tracking to have 3 very good lines. Lots of options to tinker with. We basically got 5 guys that can play center (behind Suzuki/Dach) with Newhook, Beck, Hage, Kapanen, Koivu. A few of them are moving to wing in the bottom 6 but we should have a very good 3rd and 4th line too.

Roy / Suzuki / Demidov
Caufield / Dach / Slaf
Newhook / Beck / Hage

It's usually best to spread the offence among multiple lines.

Yup, I suspect we will spread out into 3 lines we roll with a good 4th. Stack up the two PP's. That's what most teams are doing these days and it's effective.

I’m hoping Roy joins that group.

The potential is there. With good centers and a deep roster, Roy can shine. He's a good one to have in the mix. Big season for him this year.

 

[Habs Halifax]

The


I really miss that hockeysfuture grade. But DobberProspect put fantasy and NHL grade also, not bad at all.

I would put Demidov 9,0 B.

I speak about my love about the draft and not just because I'm a Habs fan, Demidov is such a amazing player. His hockey IQ are unreal. Every league he will play, he will be a amazing hockey player no matter what. His hockey IQ, hands, passing ability are these best assets.

I'm in shock to have that type of talent with Habs.

Who was the last Russian star to be drafted top 10?
* Kaprizov is the latest but he was a 5th round hit. What a steal by the Wild.
* Svechnikov drafted 2nd OA in 2018
* Kind of crazy that none of Kucherov, Panarin, Kaprizov were top 10 picks or even 1st rounders.

Russia was due for another star. Michkov and Demidov might be both stars. Seems like Demidov has an edge over Michkov. We will see how that plays out.

 

[morhilane]

Who was the last Russian star to be drafted top 10?
* Kaprizov is the latest but he was a 5th round hit. What a steal by the Wild.
* Svechnikov drafted 2nd OA in 2018
* Kind of crazy that none of Kucherov, Panarin, Kaprizov were top 10 picks or even 1st rounders.

Russia was due for another star. Michkov and Demidov might be both stars. Seems like Demidov has an edge over Michkov. We will see how that plays out.

And Svechnikov was drafted out of the OHL...
Panarin was undrafted, came over when he was 24.

As for your question, the last were Ovi/Malkin.

 

[HomaridII]

Better way to look at it isn’t that she was picked because we were taking Demidov- Demidov was made available to us because we invited the patron saint of our nation to announce the pick, and so the gods had no choice but to gift him to us.

lol so true.

As Jack Todd said, you don't bring out Celine Dion to announce you are picking Carter Yakenchuk, lol. Only the Demigod would have been appropriate.

 

[le_sean]

Better way to look at it isn’t that she was picked because we were taking Demidov- Demidov was made available to us because we invited the patron saint of our nation to announce the pick, and so the gods had no choice but to gift him to us.

Obviously I was nervous just before she announced the pick, but then I was thinking “there’s no way they will get her to try and read the name Zeev Buium and have another Carey Price/David moment”

 

[Demigod11]

Ivan Demidov - A dynamic superstar

A Demigod amongst men

sammcgilligan.substack.com

Leaving this here as it deals with my favourite part of demidov’s game, his skating style. I can’t wait to see it game after game. It explains why demidov is the first prospect to perfect the “Mohawk” skating style and why:

“if it all works out, he can push whatever team he plays for down a path that may just change the game forever.”

Thanks for the link it was a great read. His skating is also why i like Demidov so much.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1808478885035602113

I know it's not Demidov, but might have something change and he comes over this year.