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

[Goalfield13]

If Demidov becomes a superstar center, this team is an instant contender. I hope they give real consideration to experimenting with this. Maybe not in his rookie year but early on.

People are so fast to dismiss Demidov at C.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

People are so fast to dismiss Demidov at C.

I understand the concern. We want a successful jump to the NHL. Easiest way to do that is simplify things. He’s a winger now so we could just play him on the wing.

But he’s said he likes playing center better. He’d be so much more valuable to us there. If he is a true superstar and can play in that spot we become a really strong team. Suddenly we could even put Dach as our third line center…really, really deep. Or Dach could move to the wing which would be okay as well. It just makes the lineup a lot more versatile.

 

[waitin425]

If Demidov becomes a superstar center, this team is an instant contender. I hope they give real consideration to experimenting with this. Maybe not in his rookie year but early on.

What if he becomes a superstar winger a la Kaprizov or Kucherov? Would that not be equally as valuable?

 

[Goalfield13]

I understand the concern. We want a successful jump to the NHL. Easiest way to do that is simplify things. He’s a winger now so we could just play him on the wing.

But he’s said he likes playing center better. He’d be so much more valuable to us there. If he is a true superstar and can play in that spot we become a really strong team. Suddenly we could even put Dach as our third line center…really, really deep. Or Dach could move to the wing which would be okay as well. It just makes the lineup a lot more versatile.

Suzuki played 4th line W and worked his way up. I don't mind starting Demidov at W at all. pigeonholing him as only a W is what I have a problem with.

 

[CaptnNemo]

What if he becomes a superstar winger a la Kaprizov or Kucherov? Would that not be equally as valuable?

Considering Hage could probably become our second center..I'd keep him on the wing but I'm not against the possibility also.

 

[Rapala]

People are so fast to dismiss Demidov at C.

I don't see people doing anything other than having an opinion about what chair he starts in.
Demidov will be starting in the top 6. They will not give him top 6 duties at center not a chance.
If they see Demidov as a future center it's far more likely they would have him work alongside Nick Suzuki at some point beforehand.

 

[Goalfield13]

Considering Hage could probably become our second center..I'd keep him on the wing but I'm not against the possibility also.

So, you are willing to ignore the potential of Demidov at C because Hage could PROBABLY become our second line C? C'mon, man.

I don't see people doing anything other than having an opinion about what chair he starts in.
Demidov will be starting in the top 6. They will not give him top 6 duties at center not a chance.
If they see Demidov as a future center it's far more likely they would have him work alongside Nick Suzuki at some point beforehand.

Right, and people's opinion is to dismiss his potential at C. It's been going on for pages now. As stated, I don't mind him starting at W.

 

[Deebs]

People are so fast to dismiss Demidov at C.

It would be nice if he was actually playing Center so we could see what we have there. Right now, we know he's a dynamic winger that can carry a line. Time will tell

 

[Goalfield13]

It would be nice if he was actually playing Center so we could see what we have there. Right now, we know he's a dynamic winger that can carry a line. Time will tell

SKA would never play him at C. They barely like playing him period.

 

[Deebs]

That's why I said time will tell. Maybe when he comes over here we try him at Center and take it from there.

 

[Rapala]

So, you are willing to ignore the potential of Demidov at C because Hage could PROBABLY become our second line C? C'mon, man.


Right, and people's opinion is to dismiss his potential at C. It's been going on for pages now. As stated, I don't mind him starting at W.

I tend to ignore anyone who dismisses the player's potential out of hand.
If they've seen him play they should see the potential C in him.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

What if he becomes a superstar winger a la Kaprizov or Kucherov? Would that not be equally as valuable?

I wouldn’t be disappointed.

I don’t know enough about this guy to argue for him being center. I’m not going to do that. I won’t say he’s better suited here or there because I haven’t seen enough of him and don’t know enough to make the argument.

All I am saying is that if they determine it’s a viable option then I hope they explore it. If he legit became a superstar center then we become contenders pretty quickly.

We don’t know if he’ll be a star, let alone superstar… this is more speculative/dreamcasting on my part. Him being a center makes Suzuki one of the best 2nd line centers in the league. We have CC, Laine, Slaf and Dach to share on the wings - or Dach becomes third line center and we have incredible depth there… it just really helps us.

 

[Goalfield13]

That's why I said time will tell. Maybe when he comes over here we try him at Center and take it from there.

I wouldn't be surprised if they paired Beck and Demidov together next year, actually. Beck is pretty underrated around here, and I think he could be a good complement to Demidov. They both play a 2-way game as well. I guess this should go in the Beck thread.

I tend to ignore anyone who dismisses the player's potential out of hand.
If they've seen him play they should see the potential C in him.

I like you, Rapala.

 

[ReHabs]

Thank God the Habs didn’t draft Cayden Lindstrom.

Imagine how much it would burn seeing Reinbacher lose a season vs Michkov, Benson, and Leonard’s growth and then also have to sizzle watching Lindstrom miss a whole season vs Demidov torch the KHL. Stuff of nightmares.

 

[Goalfield13]

Thank God the Habs didn’t draft Cayden Lindstrom.

Imagine how much it would burn to seeing Reinbacher lose a season vs Michkov, Benson, and Leonard’s growth and then also have to sizzle watching Lindstrom miss a whole season vs Demidov torch the KHL. Stuff of nightmares.

Imagine how other teams feel about passing on Hutson!

 

[Colezuki]

People are so fast to dismiss Demidov at C.

Can you blame them? We've had numerous attempts at this type of experiment across the years, including galchenyuk and drouin, it's never worked out

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Insert Demidov into this current lineup and push everyone down. My god we are going to have something special here.

Slaf - Suzuki - Caufield
Laine - Dach - Demidov
Anderson - Evans - Newhook
Heinemen - Beck - Gally
Kapanen

This is what I'm hoping for to start next year.

Switch Slaf and Demi. Demi is a bonafide 1st liner. Slaf is a bonified Slackovsky.

 

[Goalfield13]

Can you blame them? We've had numerous attempts at this type of experiment across the years, including galchenyuk and drouin, it's never worked out

Yes, I can blame them. Putting your PTSD from past failures on future players is dumb.

 

[Deebs]

Can you blame them? We've had numerous attempts at this type of experiment across the years, including galchenyuk and drouin, it's never worked out

Vast majority of the time, wingers being converted to Center doesn't work. I also don't mind teams trying it out to find out if it does, causes no harm. Similar to what the Leafs did with Nylander at camp this year. Tried it fo a week, he said no thanks and away they go. No harm, no foul

 

[ReHabs]

Imagine how other teams feel about passing on Hutson!

Hutson’s size means some teams simply didn’t rank him on their draft board. Habs took a gamble and it worked big time, but the league is getting taller, faster, and stronger so size matters when you only have so much confidence in a prospect.

Teams passed on Cole Caufield too. The kid is electric. Some teams still won’t change their draft protocol even despite this miss — because of the size issue.

Can you blame them? We've had numerous attempts at this type of experiment across the years, including galchenyuk and drouin, it's never worked out

Yes exactly. When I see “why don’t we convert X to a a centre” my eyes glaze over and thoughts of Galchenyuk come up.

 

[waitin425]

Switch Slaf and Demi. Demi is a bonified 1st liner. Slaf is a bonified Slackovsky.

Laine - Dach - Slaf would be slow as molasses. Would rather switch Caufield and Demi...but then both of our scoring threats are on one line. What about flipping Suzuki and Dach.

Laine - Suzuki - Demidov
Slaf - Dach - Caufield

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Can you blame them? We've had numerous attempts at this type of experiment across the years, including galchenyuk and drouin, it's never worked out

Galchenyuk should’ve been our top center almost from day one. Even with all his warts he was our best offensive forward. Instead we screwed him around. That’s not to say he didn’t have his own issues but we really screwed that up.

Drouin never, ever should’ve been at center.

The old regime is nothing like the new one. This team is committed to a direction and are executing on it. Completely different story here.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Laine - Dach - Slaf would be slow as molasses. Would rather switch Caufield and Demi...but then both of our scoring threats are on one line. What about flipping Suzuki and Dach.

Laine - Suzuki - Demidov
Slaf - Dach - Caufield

Laine-Suzuki-Demi
CC-Dach-Slaf

Dach isn't really slow either. He'll gain his step back. We've seen him have more jump lately.

CC would add strong 5v5 play to the second line and would be a major threat against secondary opposition, while Demi would compensate for the loss of CC's 200 foot game on the first line.

 

[Rapala]

I wouldn't be surprised if they paired Beck and Demidov together next year, actually. Beck is pretty underrated around here, and I think he could be a good compliment to Demidov. They both play a 2-way game as well. I guess this should go in the Beck thread.


I like you, Rapala.

If you read anything I post about Beck I think you'd realize I don't under rate the player and am probably one of the furthest from it on this board...

Beck's natural progression for me would probably have him starting on a fourth line and will end where ever he takes it.
Demidov right now is definitely top six material out of the gate.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

I wouldn't be surprised if they paired Beck and Demidov together next year, actually. Beck is pretty underrated around here, and I think he could be a good compliment to Demidov. They both play a 2-way game as well. I guess this should go in the Beck thread.


I like you, Rapala.

Beck is highly intriguing. His AHL play promises a strong tweener center, but he could end-up a true second line center, but Hage seems to have more the pedigree for 2C, but we'll see. I fully expect Beck to take over 3C as soon as next year.