I think that after passing on Michkov last year, this was a somehow forced pick. People would have went bonkers if the Habs didn't take Demidov.
Having said that, this is good value at 5th overall.
Demidov is kinda difficult to evaluate because he didn't play at a very high level. Therefore, this isn't quite without risk. Still, he's probably, together with Catton, the forward with the highest offensive upside in this draft and I'm not sure it's necessarily lower than Michkov's. Unlike Michkov he also played along with the procedure of the NHL draft which is why, unlike Michkov, he wasn't on the Habs (and many other teams) no draft list. So the Habs get a player with probably similar upside but minus the red flags.
Curious to see how this works out but I agree that, wherever that may be, the Habs have to make sure this prospect gets to compete at a higher level next season.