F Ivan Demidov (2024, 5th, MTL) Part 2

[KevSkillz4]

Superstar. No doubt!!

 

[Garbageyuk]

Be exactly what the Habs need (100 point offensively gifted) if he does develop into a centre. Suzuki and Demidov is an excellent blend of skill and defensive talents.

He’s not a C, won’t be a C, and doesn’t need to be.

 

[Bombshell11]

He’s not a C, won’t be a C, and doesn’t need to be.

You have no idea

 

[Zine]

He’s not a C, won’t be a C, and doesn’t need to be.

Demidov has all the attributes to be a C. He played C at national team level in juniors and was fantastic.

 

[Garbageyuk]

You have no idea

Says the guy who unironically told everyone Mesar was generational.

 

[CanadienShark]

Says the guy who unironically told everyone Mesar was generational.

Demidov seems to be Giroux-esque where I could see him performing quite well at both C and W. Obviously remains to be seen, but he's not a typical winger.

 

[Garbageyuk]

Demidov seems to be Giroux-esque where I could see him performing quite well at both C and W. Obviously remains to be seen, but he's not a typical winger.

I don’t doubt that he could. I doubt whether that would be best for his skillset. I feel like a lot of his skills and offensive ability would be wasted at C due to positioning and the need to focus on defensive responsibilities.

While good, and not a bad skater, he isn’t elite, at least in terms of speed. That’s not going to make C for him any easier in the NHL either.

Even in your example, Giroux was always better at wing than C, almost certainly due to skating/lack of elite speed.

Would you try to play Kucherov at C? Believe it or not, some player’s games are just much more effective at wing than they ever would be at C.

 

[Fatass]

I don’t doubt that he could. I doubt whether that would be best for his skillset. I feel like a lot of his skills and offensive ability would be wasted at C due to positioning and the need to focus on defensive responsibilities.

While good, and not a bad skater, he isn’t elite, at least in terms of speed. That’s not going to make C for him any easier in the NHL either.

Even in your example, Giroux was always better at wing than C, almost certainly due to skating/lack of elite speed.

Would you try to play Kucherov at C? Believe it or not, some player’s games are just much more effective at wing than they ever would be at C.

I think you have you concept of the skating speed needed to be a top centre. If anything clubs are looking for added speed on the wings to drive defenders back off the blue line. Centres need to be smart, skilled, and skating straight line speed would be down the list of their most important attributes. Demidov imo has all the skills, smarts and skating ability to be a fantastic top six centre.

 

[Ford Prefect]

I don’t comment on Montréal affairs too often on here, but I think the more interesting eventuality to see will be if Sandin-Pelikka (who in my opinion, based on his incredible u18, was the best RD in the draft) or Reinbacher turn out to be the better player. I personally take Sandin-Pelikka, he reminds me a lot of Josh Morrisey.

For whatever reason, based on what I’ve heard, Michkov was never even a consideration for Montréal

The Habs put out a video of their draft prep. In it, you see Gorton asking, are they sure on passing on a player (presumably Michkov). To me it seems that the opinion to pass on him was not universal, but shared by those who mattered (i.e. Bobrov and Hughes, maybe Lapointe, I don't remember). Look for it on YouTube. They do one every draft, and it is really fascinating to see the process. They also show snippets of their other draftees, like Hage and Fowler, off the top of my head. I think they also have Hutson from the '22 draft.

 

[Colezuki]

The Habs put out a video of their draft prep. In it, you see Gorton asking, are they sure on passing on a player (presumably Michkov). To me it seems that the opinion to pass on him was not universal, but shared by those who mattered (i.e. Bobrov and Hughes, maybe Lapointe, I don't remember). Look for it on YouTube. They do one every draft, and it is really fascinating to see the process. They also show snippets of their other draftees, like Hage and Fowler, off the top of my head. I think they also have Hutson from the '22 draft.

Yep there great watches I look forward to them every year

 

[Ford Prefect]

I think you have you concept of the skating speed needed to be a top centre. If anything clubs are looking for added speed on the wings to drive defenders back off the blue line. Centres need to be smart, skilled, and skating straight line speed would be down the list of their most important attributes. Demidov imo has all the skills, smarts and skating ability to be a fantastic top six centre.

I completely agree. I think within 2 years, you're going to have 2 number 1 centers on the team. You look at the teams that have historically been playoff performers, they usually have great top 2 centers. AS mentioned, Demidov has all the qualities of a center. You saw him backchecking yesterday, he has incredible vision and passing skills, and is a great skater. I'm not sure ultimately what management's plans are, but I would try him there. He looks like he'll make everyone around him better. If that pushes Hage into the 3 spot, all the better.

Pipe dream, but imagine a Marner signing? A top 6 of Suzuki, Caufield, Slaf, Laine, Marner and Demidov? The most dynamic offence the team has seen since the '70's.

 

[Price is Wright]

Pipe dream, but imagine a Marner signing? A top 6 of Suzuki, Caufield, Slaf, Laine, Marner and Demidov? The most dynamic offence the team has seen since the '70's.

I don't want Marner anywhere near Montreal the way he cries about Toronto media.

 

[Ford Prefect]

I don't want Marner anywhere near Montreal the way he cries about Toronto media.

Do you care more about the way he whines to the media or that he's 5th in league scoring?

 

[Giant Panda]

He’s not a C, won’t be a C, and doesn’t need to be.

He's been a C, likes playing C, and has the skillset of a C.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Pipe dream, but imagine a Marner signing? A top 6 of Suzuki, Caufield, Slaf, Laine, Marner and Demidov? The most dynamic offence the team has seen since the '70's.

Laine lmao

 

[Garbageyuk]

He's been a C, likes playing C, and has the skillset of a C.

So what? Do you know how many NHL wingers played some C in juniors? Probably more than half, if not all. And I disagree he has the “skillset of a C”. He isn’t strong defensively, he is not really fast, his defensive awareness isn’t great, and he doesn’t have a particularly strong game through the neutral zone. Not nit picking the kid, just being realistic. And that says nothing about faceoffs - a critical facet of playing C. We don’t really know his current ability there, but I think it’s a pretty safe bet that it isn’t good. This is the problem with this fanbase - people are already pencilling him in as a future 1C in this thread lmao. Ridiculous.

 

[Price is Wright]

Do you care more about the way he whines to the media or that he's 5th in league scoring?

I don't care for his character as a hockey player. When the pressure goes up Marner's scoring goes down.

2024 Boston Game 6&7: 0 points
2023 Florida Game 5: 0 points
2023 Tampa Game 7: 0 points
2022 Tampa Game 7: 1 assist
2021 Montreal Game 6&7: 0 points
2020 Columbus Game 5: 0 points
2019 Boston Game 5,6&7: 0 points
2018 Boston Game 7: 1 assist
2017 Washington Game 6&7: 0 points

 

[Sasha Orlov]

I don't care for his character as a hockey player. When the pressure goes up Marner's scoring goes down.

2024 Boston Game 6&7: 0 points
2023 Florida Game 5: 0 points
2023 Tampa Game 7: 0 points
2022 Tampa Game 7: 1 assist
2021 Montreal Game 6&7: 0 points
2020 Columbus Game 5: 0 points
2019 Boston Game 5,6&7: 0 points
2018 Boston Game 7: 1 assist
2017 Washington Game 6&7: 0 points

This thread is about Ivan Demidov

 

[Price is Wright]

This thread is about Ivan Demidov

Apologies, just answering guy who wanted Habs to sign Mitch Marner when whatever money he'd be paid should one day go to Demidov.

 

[Frank Drebin]

He looks like a solid 3rd liner for sure! Habs have lucked out.

Guy doesn’t even backcheck

 

[Legend123]

What a play by ivan

A post and a beauty move just wide

 

[Draft]

So what? Do you know how many NHL wingers played some C in juniors? Probably more than half, if not all. And I disagree he has the “skillset of a C”. He isn’t strong defensively, he is not really fast, his defensive awareness isn’t great, and he doesn’t have a particularly strong game through the neutral zone. Not nit picking the kid, just being realistic. And that says nothing about faceoffs - a critical facet of playing C. We don’t really know his current ability there, but I think it’s a pretty safe bet that it isn’t good. This is the problem with this fanbase - people are already pencilling him in as a future 1C in this thread lmao. Ridiculous.

This is a very surface-level evaluation of what makes Demidov a fit in the middle and not entirely accurate. Don’t agree on either comment regarding his defensive play - he was average to above average in the KHL as a 18/19yo, very strong with his age group. He’s committed and engaged defensively, this is something that can be developed. He’s exceptionally strong transitioning the puck through the neutral zone - especially when he’s carrying the puck through the middle. He is very mobile, even if he’s not elite in a straight line.

I get the hesitancy about putting additional pressure on him or worries about mismanaging his development. It’s not like the Habs haven’t been burned in similar circumstances. That being said, if the team wants him in the middle, he has the capacity to develop there.

 

[Ezpz]

Taylor hall every where today

 

[Ford Prefect]

Laine lmao

He's signed for next year so, yes. I'm not advocating for a long-term contract, just going with what we've got.

 

[ViD]

Rough night for Ivan - punished to play with Laine and then their line was benched in the third