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

[The Gr8 Dane]

From what I’ve gleaned he’s player Center a lot in lower leagues. A chunk of the games in the MHL playoffs he played extremely well at Center. He prefers Center to wing. I have read other hints that he sees himself more as a Center than a winger.

And then there’s his style. Michkov is a top of his blue line out type of a forward that always plays deep. Whereas, Demidov plays two ways and comes down deep in his zone. He likes picking up the puck very low to start an attack. And he always loops back, while Michkov stays far out.

And we’ve been salivating for players like Wright who’s 6 feet, not physical and not strong as our organizational “big” center. This guy is 6’1, strong like a bull, built like an ox, goes head to head in physical battles vs men. He’ll be a superstar for sure. But if he’s a superstar Center he’s even more valuable to the team to win a Cup.

Agree with everything you say , But I'm also higher on him at C experiment than most

 

[crosbyshow]

100%

Demidov and Laine change everything on forward group. Laine is a superstar talent and add Demidov with him, that will be amazing man!!

The another spot for making a perfect top 6 it's going the 2C, if Dach replay like he did in first year or Hage become literally a 1st line talent, we are in business!!

Yep.

Demidov has so many qualities in his game but I think that his best one is his vision.


He is able to make some really great hard pass everywhere on the ice from his forehand and his backhand...

..and guess what he will play with Laine or Caufield next year so......do the math...

 

[rahad]

Demidov has never played center for long stretches in the MHL or KHL, so I agree with you in the sense that I really don't see how he will/should be put in that position in the NHL. When the dust has settled, hopefully Demidov'll be a creative playmaking winger that produces offense for us, and makes everyone around him better at the NHL level.

As far as our needs go, there is no denying the fact that we currently have a surplus of wingers and 2 major needs; a MASSIVE hole at #2C in the NHL given how poorly Dach has played this year, and major needs on the right side of the defense considering that Hutson looks like a stud, that Guhle is a serviceable #4 LD right now, and that Xhekaj has settled-down some and looks to be a capable 3rd-pairing LD.

With those factors in mind, we turn to our prospect pool, and then things get more complicated.

When it comes to depth players and wingers, we're doing very well. Heineman is establishing himself in the NHL, Tuch, Davidson, and Xhekaj look like they could be fixtures in our bottom-6, and we also have potential top-6 wing options in Mesar and Roy if they end up developing favorably. And we shouldn't forget Demidov, he's the crown jewel of our prospect pool and as close to a sure-fire top-line winger as you can get without proving it in the NHL.

We're also very well-positioned on the goaltending front with Fowler in the NCAA and looking like he could be a potential #1 goaltender with favorable development. Dobes has also done very well in the AHL and possesses underrated NHL potential.

If we look at the center position, we have to start with Michael Hage and how incredible he's been for Michigan this year. Hage's tools all project very well in the NHL, and he plain looks to be a potential top-6 center if everything goes well. Beck is playing very well in the AHL right now while also showing clear middle-6 center upside. And Oliver Kapanen, by playing well at the NHL, Liiga, and SHL levels, has similarly shown that he could be a long-term middle-6 center for us with good further development (and bulking-up).

So yeah, if you look at our prospect pool, it looks like we could have in-house solutions to our massive 2C hole but those will still need years to develop before they start plugging-in our lineup. But the same is true of whomever we pick in this year's draft if we don't luck-out and get a top-4 pick so this is kind of a moot point when it comes to whom we should draft.

Moving on to our D prospects, things get murkier.

We're looking great at LD now with Hutson, Guhle, and Xhekaj, and in the future considering that Engstrom has been the single-best Laval defenseman in my opinion this year, and has all the tools to be another top-4 defenseman for us.

But on the RD side of things, we not only "don't look so good" in the NHL right now, but it is also the single-greatest weakness of our prospect pool.

Justin Barron has failed to show progression and/or consistency this year.

And in the same vein, Logan Mailloux so far seems to have hit a plateau in his development this season. Last year Mailloux progresssed a tremendous amount in the AHL from a crap-tacular beginning to a very solid end of his season, but this year he has been much more inconsistent, and also more "lost" defensively than last (which I frankly don't understand how/why). Mailloux's potential and skillset still track to make him a possible top-4 defenseman one day, but the lack of progression defensively this season isn't really ideal as I've said.

Then we look at Reinbacher and the terrible injury he sustained in the preseason, and what was once a bright spot of our prospect pool suddenly looks a little questionable.

If Reinbacher comes back next year, looking like he hasn't missed a beat, then prognostics immediately turn a lot more "rosy" for us on the right side of the defense even if Barron/Mailloux continue to stall.

But if Reinbacher comes back with the same kind of issues that Dach has experienced this year, this could spell trouble for our right side of the defense. Moreso if the aforementioned "stalling" of Barron/Mailloux continues.

And so I personally come to the conclusion that the Canadiens should try and draft BPA still with their first pick, but perhaps try and use Calgary's pick on a big, mobile RHD to help shore-up what is a definite weakness.

In the end, a perfect 2025 Draft scenario for us would be to announce a Demidov signing at the Draft just before our management goes up the stage to select First Overall. And Calgary's pick would be the 11th, which we'd use to select a nonsensical faller and insane-value pick like Sam Dickinson last year.

Cameron Schmidt would fall to the 2nd round and we'd get him with one of our second-round picks.

Flight of fancy that would be, except for the Demidov signing.

We possibly drafted 2 top 6 forward in 2024. If we can get lucky in 2025 and draft Schaefer with our pick and Desnoyer with Calgary pick. Our rebuild will be set for the next 15 years.

 

[WeThreeKings]

As much as I want Demidov ASAP, him coming over this year means he can't win his Calder

 

[rahad]

There is a very Small chance that they could “negotiate” or “discuss” his immediate departure back to MTL with them.


How awesome would that be???

Do you truly wish to burn his first year rookie contract for 20 games? Demidov with his rookie contract from 2025 to 2028 could be huge advantage for us. It would give us more cap space for trade in 2027-2028.

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

Do you truly wish to burn his first year rookie contract for 20 games? Demidov with his rookie contract from 2025 to 2028 could be huge advantage for us. It would give us more space in the cap for trade in 2027-2028.

100% you burn the year. It's what the player wants, and being here is also what's best for the player. We want this kid to be a Hab for life, that contract year won't matter.

 

[Habs13]

As much as I want Demidov ASAP, him coming over this year means he can't win his Calder

...unless!!!

 

[overlords]

100% you burn the year. It's what the player wants, and being here is also what's best for the player. We want this kid to be a Hab for life, that contract year won't matter.

It might if we have to go through an expansion draft and protect kids who could have still been on their ELC.

 

[rahad]

100% you burn the year. It's what the player wants, and being here is also what's best for the player. We want this kid to be a Hab for life, that contract year won't matter.

He is still playing in the KHL. Let him finish the season and train in the summer. Bringing a rookie in the middle of the season is absurd. Habs are in the bottom right now. The club is kinda in a mess. It would be easier for him to join us next season. A whole summer to gain muscle and learn MSL system. It would be easier to find a Vet for him to stay next year.

Having cap space for the season of 2028 could be huge for us.

 

[BLONG7]

Do you truly wish to burn his first year rookie contract for 20 games? Demidov with his rookie contract from 2025 to 2028 could be huge advantage for us. It would give us more cap space for trade in 2027-2028.

We burned a year off of Hutson's for TWO games. The team has money, so really it means nothing to the team, if the kid performs, they deserve the money a year earlier......results matter.

In a case of Ryan Poehling................didn't work, so you pivot.

Demidov is a sure thing, ala Hutson!!
Bring him over boys!!

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He's played it a bit in the past but really just from the draft video where one scout mentioned it.

He's not playing it in the KHL and I'd rather he not have to worry about defensive duties. Just let this kid create.

I just wish we could put him there. Have him on one line, Suzuki on the other.

We already have great wingers. If we could add a 90-100 point center? Imagine how good that would be.

He’s said he likes center. I’d love to see us try it. Put him with Laine… Forst line stays the same.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

As much as I want Demidov ASAP, him coming over this year means he can't win his Calder

Who cares about the Calder though? Price came over halfway through, didn’t win but had a great year.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Who cares about the Calder though? Price came over halfway through, didn’t win but had a great year.

I do, be nice to win an award lol

 

[rahad]

We burned a year off of Hutson's for TWO games. The team has money, so really it means nothing to the team, if the kid performs, they deserve the money a year earlier......results matter.

In a case of Ryan Poehling................didn't work, so you pivot.

Demidov is a sure thing, ala Hutson!!
Bring him over boys!!

Is not the same situation. Hutson played in the University. They often burn the contract this way. Like we did with Farrell. Same for Poehling.

Team often burn the first year contract from player coming from college/university.

 

[SwiftyHab]

Do you truly wish to burn his first year rookie contract for 20 games? Demidov with his rookie contract from 2025 to 2028 could be huge advantage for us. It would give us more cap space for trade in 2027-2028.

Fire it up like its the Fourth of Jew-LiE baby!

 

[overlords]

Fire it up like its the Fourth of Jew-LiE baby!

 

[Team_Spirit]

RR is growing on me idk why

Bring back Russia to international tournaments!

 

[junyab]

I'm so glad he's not here yet. I just wouldn't be able to stand the boo-birds losing their minds if he dared to go 3 games without a point.

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

I'm so glad he's not here yet. I just wouldn't be able to stand the boo-birds losing their minds if he dared to go 3 games without a point.

If he was here he would probably be leading our team in points, that's how good he is.

 

[junyab]

If he was here he would probably be leading our team in points, that's how good he is.

Thank you for telling me how good he is, I had no idea.

But my point stands.

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

Thank you for telling me how good he is, I had no idea.

But my point stands.

3 games without a point for Demidov means the next 3 games will produce 6-7 points. I don't think the boo birds will ever have anything to say about him. The guy is next level.

 

[sampollock]

bring him back KH. lol

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I do, be nice to win an award lol

The Calder is the one that doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things. It's a one time award for a good first year.

If this guy could come in now (esp as our center) it would be amazing. That's all that really matters.

 

[Walksss]

He's not coming back, as it should be. Very dumb to burn a year off an ELC of a superstar for a lost season. This is some very short sighted thinking. Very HF Habs.

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

The Calder is the one that doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things. It's a one time award for a good first year.

If this guy could come in now (esp as our center) it would be amazing. That's all that really matters.

100%, and if he comes here to play center that could solve our biggest problem. A bird in the hand is always worth more. This kid should be home with us as soon as possible.