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

[Kennerback]

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.

We fortunately landed the better of the two. But I still hope it works out for Flyers fans. I think Brière understands’ Michkov’s style. He also scored a ton of his goals hiding around the net and popping out to score….

But there will be serious growing pains with Torts. Every second paragraph on Flyers blogs is about Torts.

Someone put this as a joke. I think this is actually very realistic:

“When asked why he had decided to bench Matvei Michkov 3 games into the season after a 2 goal, 1 assist outing, Coach John Tortorella responded that it would be good for Michkov to see the smaller ice surface from the press box and to study how Scott Laughton and Garnet Hathaway play in their own end of the ice.”

 

[MarkovsKnee]

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

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

Damn I would love to see this for Demidov. It might be in the cards if SKA sends him to MHL again. Hughes did say they would have to reconsider things if that happens.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

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

The great thing about that while Suzuki, Roy & Caufield were brought in by Bergevin, the rest are all new management. That's a nice haul by them.

 

[SOLR]

I doubt it.. he's either playing in Montreal or the KHL this year.

Why either? I think a year in the CHL would do him wonders (in a big market), he's not Slafkovski.

 

[Vachon23]

Why either? I think a year in the CHL would do him wonders (in a big market), he's not Slafkovski.

He didn’t get drafted so it’s not happening

 

[junyab]

Why either? I think a year in the CHL would do him wonders (in a big market), he's not Slafkovski.

I'd assume he's too good for the CHL, like he was in the MHL..

 

[JoelWarlord]

Why either? I think a year in the CHL would do him wonders (in a big market), he's not Slafkovski.

Guys like Galchenyuk, Kotkaniemi, Slafkovsky, and even Zach Benson/Cole Sillinger were year 1 NHLers, Demidov is not coming to North America to play in the Q. If he comes over this year and somehow doesn't make the NHL roster he'll be in Laval.

Demidov really isn't a "normal" prospect who is going to need to a year in the CHL, a year in the AHL, and a year split between AHL/NHL before breaking into the top 6 in his D+4 or D+5. He genuinely might already be our third best forward at this very moment and is almost certainly no lower than 5th after Suzuki, Slafkovsky, Caufield, and Dach.

 

[Redux91]

It's so funny seeing the '5"11 181lbs' on most sites still and thinking .... um, STILL would of sprinted to the podium to draft him

And I know I'm obviously biased here
But nobody can convince me his Smile wouldn't of been as big drafted by someone else, I really don't care what anyone says lol
You can legit SEE on his face he is beyond happy it turned out this way
A ridiculous FIT in MTL, it doesn't even make sense this happened still..

 

[SOLR]

I'd assume he's too good for the CHL, like he was in the MHL..

MHL is the CHL - but bigger tournaments and more practice.
NA adaptation.

 

[morhilane]

It's so funny seeing the '5"11 181lbs' on most sites still and thinking .... um, STILL would of sprinted to the podium to draft him

And I know I'm obviously biased here
But nobody can convince me his Smile wouldn't of been as big drafted by someone else, I really don't care what anyone says lol
You can legit SEE on his face he is beyond happy it turned out this way
A ridiculous FIT in MTL, it doesn't even make sense this happened still..

Personally, I think the funniest is thinking Celebrini was taller and bigger and using that in argument all season long...

Also, I wouldn't be surprised if Bobrov did the hell of a sell job and Demidov played a bit the "maybe I'll stay in Russia longer card" in interviews to other teams because he wanted to come to Montréal.

 

[Redux91]

MHL is the CHL - but bigger tournaments and more practice.
NA adaptation.

Yeah, I'm really not digging the knocks on the MHL
All the top players are 20 years old
And it's not like it's a bunch of tier 3 Europeans in the league like... it's Russia.
They take hockey pretty seriously there despite what people think of strength of leagues

But it would definitely be cool to see him play some 30 KHL games next year
But if it doesn't happen for political reasons, that's fine too

He's here next April either way.
I waited *two years* for Caufield people forget lol

 

[KevSkillz4]

MHL is the CHL - but bigger tournaments and more practice.
NA adaptation.

I think the best comparable league for MHL it's USHL. When I watch production of Kucherov, Michkov and much more. That's sound USHL type of production for great players like Jack Hughes with 2 ppg. Demidov have 2 ppg too at 17 years old. The difference between Hughes and Demidov, it's the skating ability. Hughes is a better skater. But Demidov have unreal skillset at offensive like Hughes.

 

[Kennerback]

Personally, I think the funniest is thinking Celebrini was taller and bigger and using that in argument all season long...

Also, I wouldn't be surprised if Bobrov did the hell of a sell job and Demidov played a bit the "maybe I'll stay in Russia longer card" in interviews to other teams because he wanted to come to Montréal.

And if we want to play that game, who’s more undersized considering position, the 5:11 1/2 #1 center or the “smallish winger” that looked on video as big as anyone he played against?

 

[KevSkillz4]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1675966864692764672

Unreal. First KHL game for Demidov and watch what he do.

 

[morhilane]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1675966864692764672

Unreal. First KHL game for Demidov and watch what he do.

He's so a forward version of Hutson. Less head fakes, but just as many broken ankles.

 

[KevSkillz4]

He's so a forward version of Hutson. Let head fakes, but just as many broken ankles.

That's incredible. Imagine 2 secondes having Caufield, Demidov and Hutson on the same PP.

 

[MasterD]

Damn I would love to see this for Demidov. It might be in the cards if SKA sends him to MHL again. Hughes did say they would have to reconsider things if that happens.

Heard that. If I'm SKA and I know he won't be a top 6 player in the KHL this year, I tell the Habs he's going to the MHL and ask for a boatload of money to break his contract.

 

[morhilane]

That's incredible. Imagine 2 secondes having Caufield, Demidov and Hutson on the same PP.

Slaf/Demidov/Hutson will be pure chaos.
They might actually need a garbage collector instead of Caufield/Suzuki.

Heard that. If I'm SKA and I know he won't be a top 6 player in the KHL this year, I tell the Habs he's going to the MHL and ask for a boatload of money to break his contract.

That is illegal per the CBA/NHL rules.

 

[Redux91]

His ****ing FACE when he answers 'Yup' to the question about being our possible game breaker
Like is this kid kidding me lol?
I thought SLAF was the prospect interview bar but my god lol
Look how happy he is..

I'll take a Kobe Bryant on our team

 

[Rapala]

It's so funny seeing the '5"11 181lbs' on most sites still and thinking...

That it's the Montreal paid off all these sites not to update pre-draft conspiracy theory.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Heard that. If I'm SKA and I know he won't be a top 6 player in the KHL this year, I tell the Habs he's going to the MHL and ask for a boatload of money to break his contract.

You're not allowed to do that. It's against NHL regs; however because he has one year left on his contract I think Montreal can sign him to an ELC, it just gets deferred to next year. He can use the signing bonus towards the buy-out.

 

[BoneHutson]

Slaf/Demidov/Hutson will be pure chaos.
They might actually need a garbage collector instead of Caufield/Suzuki.


That is illegal per the CBA/NHL rules.

Then why arent the Flyers punished for paying 1m to SKA for Michkov? As long as Demidov pays the last year of his contract by himself, Molson can give whatever sum of money he wants to SKA lmao

 

[Kennerback]

You're not allowed to do that. It's against NHL regs; however because he has one year left on his contract I think Montreal can sign him to an ELC, it just gets deferred to next year. He can use the signing bonus towards the buy-out.

They probably exploited some loophole in the clause.

 

[montreal]

Assist 0:44
Slick Move 3:18
End of Period Melee 5:59
Fends Off Check Nice Pass 15:47
Shot 16:59

 

[morhilane]

Then why arent the Flyers punished for paying 1m to SKA for Michkov? As long as Demidov pays the last year of his contract by himself, Molson can give whatever sum of money he wants to SKA lmao

I haven't seen any news about the Flyers paying SKA 1m for them to loan Michkov to them because they don't want to play him in their own club.