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

[MarkovsKnee]

You photoshopping your fantasies, or was Lane there tonight?

He's there to support his brother, Cole, who's expected to be drafted in 2nd round. Might as well meet the new guy.

 

[Hacketts]

Scott Wheeler:

I can’t think of a better outcome for the Habs. We know where their young group of defensemen is at. Now, they’ve added two of the best forwards in the draft, one of whom is an elite skill guy and one of whom is a center with length, skating (Hage is one of the best skaters in the draft), skill (he gets high grades in this class here, too) and a profile that I love.

I believe that Demidov is the second-best prospect in the draft and is a home run for the Habs. A true game-breaker is the one thing it felt like their core was missing — the kind of player who can challenge for 90 to 100 points if things break right. There’s no guarantee that he will become that, but I see that kind of upside and he feels like a 70-to-80-point player at his floor. I think he’s going to make magic happen in the NHL and thrill one of the most passionate fan bases in professional sports. It’ll be great for the league.
And Hage might be my favorite prospect in the draft. I think he’s got a legitimate path to a long career as a top-six player. I comped him to Jordan Kyrou and I think that’s within reach.

This is a big day in the Habs’ rebuild and they had the best Day 1 of the bunch. One to remember.

still feels a bit surreal.

 

[themilosh]

I was just reading the Hawks page, and holy smokes it's verbatim habs page '23

Now bruins fans are jealous

 

[MarkovsKnee]

View attachment 889162
Now bruins fans are jealous

Bruins definitely wanted a center. They probably had 1. Hage 2. Beaudoin 3. Letourneau.

First Montreal then Utah jumped them to get Hage & Beaudoin. Bruins could only watch because they have no draft assets.

 

[themilosh]

Bruins definitely wanted a center. They probably had 1. Hage 2. Beaudoin 3. Letourneau.

First Montreal then Utah jumped them to get Hage & Beaudoin. Bruins could only watch because they have no draft assets.

Wouldnt Boivert be part of this group?

 

[Kennerback]

My favorite pick the Habs have made in my lifetime. We’re more sure we have a player than the day we drafted Galchenyuk or KK that both had much grey zones. I love Slafkovsky. He’s now my clear number #1 in that season. He’ll help us win the Cup. But there wasn’t a player of Demidov’s skill level that draft year.

 

[No More Subban]

Anybody hate this pick? Just curious.

Where are the ones that guaranteed us Demidov would not be available at 5?

And oh yeah, how about the ones that were to run naked if Demidov is the pick…did you follow through?

I'm one of them. Didn't think three teams would pass up on Demidov. There was no fn way. Tij was a lot more realistic. Thought the Habs got lucky tonight.

Thank you, Chicago, Anaheim and Columbus!

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Wouldnt Boivert be part of this group?

He went in top 20. There was no realistic chance at Boisvert. Really there was no realistic chance at Hage either since Toronto was going to take him, and immediately traded back once Montreal did.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Welcome to Montreal Ivan!

Dwmidov really was the pick for us at 5. You just gotta take a swing with that talent when you get the chance. I'm really excited about him. We finally have a prospect with elite offensive upside.

 

[donghabs98]

I haven't been this excited this early for a habs prospect in a long time. We've been starved for an electric forward for so long and have only ever been able to get them either for a hot moment (Radulov), in the back half of their career (Kovalev) or at the very end (Kovalchuk). It's exciting to think we'll have Demidov right when he's getting into his prime and then hopefully his prime.

 

[donghabs98]

Scott Wheeler:

I can’t think of a better outcome for the Habs. We know where their young group of defensemen is at. Now, they’ve added two of the best forwards in the draft, one of whom is an elite skill guy and one of whom is a center with length, skating (Hage is one of the best skaters in the draft), skill (he gets high grades in this class here, too) and a profile that I love.

I believe that Demidov is the second-best prospect in the draft and is a home run for the Habs. A true game-breaker is the one thing it felt like their core was missing — the kind of player who can challenge for 90 to 100 points if things break right. There’s no guarantee that he will become that, but I see that kind of upside and he feels like a 70-to-80-point player at his floor. I think he’s going to make magic happen in the NHL and thrill one of the most passionate fan bases in professional sports. It’ll be great for the league.

And Hage might be my favorite prospect in the draft. I think he’s got a legitimate path to a long career as a top-six player. I comped him to Jordan Kyrou and I think that’s within reach.

This is a big day in the Habs’ rebuild and they had the best Day 1 of the bunch. One to remember.

Night and Day compared to last year in terms of day 1 draft

 

[Nicko999]

I could not believe 3 teams passed on Demigod. I was ready to curse Hughes for passing up on him but then Celine actually said Demidov's and I couldn't believe it.

Major talent!!! Hopefully he plays in the KHL next year.

 

[The Great Weal]

Welcome to Montreal Ivan!

Dwmidov really was the pick for us at 5. You just gotta take a swing with that talent when you get the chance. I'm really excited about him. We finally have a prospect with elite offensive upside.

Do you also like the Hage pick (especially trading up for him)?

 

[Twisted Sinister]

Thank you for all this stuff that you put together. It's amazing.

 

[Simarino]

PP1: Suzuki - Slaf - Demidov - Caufield - Hutson

No reason why this can't become one of the best pp units in the league

 

[Ozmodiar]

Habs HFBoards was just …

 

[NotProkofievian]

Do you also like the Hage pick (especially trading up for him)?

Not as much as others seem to, especially not the trading up part. But he's got tools to work with, and seems like a good kid.

 

[zzoo]

Do you think that Demidov will come to the Development camp in early July ?

 

[red devil]

Do you think that Demidov will come to the Development camp in early July ?

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806850008303689786

 

[BenchBrawl]

Excited about this pick.

Finally someone to potentially replace Kovalev.

 

[CanadienShark]

View attachment 889162
Now bruins fans are jealous

You have a missed call and they left a voicemail.

 

[McGees]

WE NEED TO TRADE GALLY SO DEMIDOV CAN KEEP HIS NUMBER WHEN HE COMES.

 

[McGees]

We REALLY needed this star forward talent for the rebuild...I think tank is done.
Develop the kids and sign a UFA or 2 next summer and we rollin.

 

[Erika]

Finally, a suitable replacement for my old love Sergei Kostitsyn...after more than a decade of nothingness. It was about time we have our next homegrown Soviet superstar. Markov was the last one for me and its been ages.

This pick feels like a home run. I had the same feeling when they picked Juraj Slafkovsky. I can't believe the habs will have 2 offensive dynamo for the next decade. Also, the Reinbacher pick is looking amazing right now imo.
Reinbacher > Yakemchuk, Buuim, Dickenson, Parekh.
The only one I would take before Reinbacher would be Silayev and that's only because he could be the next Chara, but what do I know.

I haven't been this excited after a draft for a very long time. Time to get back into following the habs more closely again I'm afraid ... especially now with my new found love.

 

[Sagikev]

I swear I'm not crying