F Ivan Demidov - SKA St. Petersburg, KHL (2024, 5th, MTL)

[Garbageyuk]

Yeah, I see a little more Kucherov in the way of making big brain moves that no one anticipates than Crosby. I think Demidov lacks that power game that Crosby has. I suppose there are some similarities, but I don't personally think they're great comparables. Granted we're discussing two (three) pretty unique players.

I’ve heard the Kucherov comparison before and I just don’t see it, tbh. Kucherov is much more of a cerebral, slow the game down, wait for an opening type of offensive player - surgical in that aspect in fact. He’s mastered it.

I don’t really see that in Demidov’s game to nearly the same degree (stylistically, not just ability). Demidov is much more tenacity, pace, and downright audacity, if we’re being honest. He makes things happen and persues the plays he wants, whereas Kucherov kind of slows things down and picks opponents apart. There’s some overlap in their games, I guess, but their approach is much different, from what I’ve seen.

 

[CanadienShark]

I’ve heard the Kucherov comparison before and I just don’t see it, tbh. Kucherov is much more of a cerebral, slow the game down, wait for an opening type of offensive player - surgical in that aspect in fact. He’s mastered it.

I don’t really see that in Demidov’s game to nearly the same degree (stylistically, not just ability). Demidov is much more tenacity, pace, and downright audacity, if we’re being honest. He makes things happen and persues the plays he wants, whereas Kucherov kind of slows things down and picks opponents apart. There’s some overlap in their games, I guess, but their approach is much different, from what I’ve seen.

I don't mean that as a holistic comparison. I'm speaking only about their ability to make creative moves that no one would ever expect. Basically, none of those three are real comparables, despite (as you say), some overlap between skills.

 

[Garbageyuk]

I don't mean that as a holistic comparison. I'm speaking only about their ability to make creative moves that no one would ever expect. Basically, none of those three are real comparables, despite (as you say), some overlap between skills.

Yeah, it’s tough to pinpoint a really satisfactory stylistic comparison for this guy; there may not be one. In any case, seeing flashes of these players in his game certainly isn’t a bad thing.

 

[Kiirin]

We is the fanbase but top 4 defenseman is what they had in mind when they drafted him and even Hughes said it himself after that draft.

Why people keep bringing Reinbacher in that discussion...?

Let's close this topic up or start posting on his own thread but let me tell you, if you can get a crazy good legit top 4 defenseman with a 14th overall-25th overall pick sign me up! Any names? Habs could even offer both 1st pick for one. They are not as easy getting as you would make it seems.

The management had Seider/Pietrangelo in mind when they picked Reinbacher whom both are considered 1st pairing defensemen who can log around 20 to 25 minutes a night. There's no way they passed on Michkov for a kid with the ceiling of Kaiden Guhle or Colton Parayko(as much as I like them)

 

[jfhabs]

Leafs fan above btw

Honestly with some poster, I really wonder if they prefer cheering for the team or hating on their rival. Sad.

 

[jfhabs]

I’ve heard the Kucherov comparison before and I just don’t see it, tbh. Kucherov is much more of a cerebral, slow the game down, wait for an opening type of offensive player - surgical in that aspect in fact. He’s mastered it.

I don’t really see that in Demidov’s game to nearly the same degree (stylistically, not just ability). Demidov is much more tenacity, pace, and downright audacity, if we’re being honest. He makes things happen and persues the plays he wants, whereas Kucherov kind of slows things down and picks opponents apart. There’s some overlap in their games, I guess, but their approach is much different, from what I’ve seen.

To me , he looks more like a smaller Malkin stylistically.

 

[Boxscore]

To me , he looks more like a smaller Malkin stylistically.

Likewise. He reminds me, stylistically, of a blend between Malkin and Kaprizov.

Ironically, if Kapanen is still wearing #91 when Demidov arrives next season, I hope he takes #97!

 

[Guadana]

Because it’s valid when another team said they preferred the bigger guy playing a more important position but when it’s Montreal, this argument is not valid. Our 6’4 RHD prospect is also a bust if he can’t win a top 4 spot out of camp in his D+2

Hehe

Nemec is better prospect than Reinbacher.

And Michkov is many times better prospect than Cooley.

Nemec is much closer to Cooley than Reinbacher to Michkov.

Comparing this two cases is just a huge mistake. Nemec could be penciled as a right and understandable pick, Reinbacher will never be and never was. Even if Cooley or Nemec were available- both were very bad picks to draft by 5th pick in 2023.

It was as a bad ir even worser as drafting Dickinson over Demidov - with need or without it, with Michkov or with anyone.

 

[Baksfamous112]

Hehe

Nemec is better prospect than Reinbacher.

And Michkov is many times better prospect than Cooley.

Nemec is much closer to Cooley than Reinbacher to Michkov.

Comparing this two cases is just a huge mistake. Nemec could be penciled as a right and understandable pick, Reinbacher will never be and never was. Even if Cooley or Nemec were available- both were very bad picks to draft by 5th pick in 2023.

It was as a bad ir even worser as drafting Dickinson over Demidov - with need or without it, with Michkov or with anyone.

Reinbacher was #5 on most of final lists while Nemec was 2-5 on most lists.

Dickinson didn’t go before Demidov so I’m not sure what you’re referencing to.

You’re out of your mind if you call a winner after their D+2 camp not even being done. It’s like last year when people called Slafkovsky a bust and how Cooley should have been #1. Things can change fast at this age

 

[Guadana]

Reinbacher was #5 on most of final lists while Nemec was 2-5 on most lists.

Dickinson didn’t go before Demidov so I’m not sure what you’re referencing to.

You’re out of your mind if you call a winner after their D+2 camp not even being done. It’s like last year when people called Slafkovsky a bust and how Cooley should have been #1. Things can change fast at this age

Its not that hard in this case. It was obvious in the draft day. After the draft day it more obvious.

In Reinbacher/Nemec case again - it telling a lot more about how your argument doesn't work even more. Nemec was higher ranked, Nemec performed industrial d+1 year better, Nemec was clear NHLer in his D+2. Reinbacher didn't look like NHLer before injury. There are huge gap between Michkov and Cooley. So drafting Nemec was normal decision.

Drafting Reinbacher was bad decision. And I will help you with Dickinson example if you can't understand - Dickinson was used as an example of player of ~same level of Reinbacher who could be drafted for need over Demidov for your team. Even if there were huge need - like one poster said before - even if Dickinson will become 20-25 min defenseman, he will not be as valuable as Demidov. It would be the same bad pick. Mtl had all the same wingers they had before and Michkov was better player for the role of producing winger but they preferred to draft Reinbacher for need. Michkov was better than Reinbacher, he is better than Demidov and of course he is better than Dickinson.

It was bad in the day, it is even more bad now and the only thing that can turn this around is potential injuries of Michkov. But for now Reinbacher is "more injured" player.

And I don't care about Cooley and Slafkovsky. Because I told that Slaf will become first overall before Olympic games were ended. And I never had any problems with how Slafkovsky developed. And again - Slafkovsky and Cooley are much closer to each other. Michkov is better than Cooley, better than Slafkovsky and of course he was better and he us better - much better than Reinbacher and he is much harder to find.

And I'm not the one who is out of mind here.

At least mtl - team that already didn't have "need for small wingers" year ago, made their right decision and drafted really good prospect Demidov this year.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Could we please move all these endless discussion about Reinbacher vs Michkov and so to the Reinbacher thread and leave this one only about Demidov.

Thanks to all!

 

[Baksfamous112]

Its not that hard in this case. It was obvious in the draft day. After the draft day it more obvious.

In Reinbacher/Nemec case again - it telling a lot more about how your argument doesn't work even more. Nemec was higher ranked, Nemec performed industrial d+1 year better, Nemec was clear NHLer in his D+2. Reinbacher didn't look like NHLer before injury. There are huge gap between Michkov and Cooley. So drafting Nemec was normal decision.

Drafting Reinbacher was bad decision. And I will help you with Dickinson example if you can't understand - Dickinson was used as an example of player of ~same level of Reinbacher who could be drafted for need over Demidov for your team. Even if there were huge need - like one poster said before - even if Dickinson will become 20-25 min defenseman, he will not be as valuable as Demidov. It would be the same bad pick. Mtl had all the same wingers they had before and Michkov was better player for the role of producing winger but they preferred to draft Reinbacher for need. Michkov was better than Reinbacher, he is better than Demidov and of course he is better than Dickinson.

It was bad in the day, it is even more bad now and the only thing that can turn this around is potential injuries of Michkov. But for now Reinbacher is "more injured" player.

And I don't care about Cooley and Slafkovsky. Because I told that Slaf will become first overall before Olympic games were ended. And I never had any problems with how Slafkovsky developed. And again - Slafkovsky and Cooley are much closer to each other. Michkov is better than Cooley, better than Slafkovsky and of course he was better and he us better - much better than Reinbacher and he is much harder to find.

And I'm not the one who is out of mind here.

At least mtl - team that already didn't have "need for small wingers" year ago, made their right decision and drafted really good prospect Demidov this year.

What are you even talking about? Nemec was ranked between 4-6 and on almost all lists (including Mackenzie at #4) and sometimes even lower than Jiricek and FYI, Dickinson was ranked #6 in Bob McKenzie ranking. In their own draft year, Michkov was ranked #5 and Reinbacher #8. Also, if you look closely, you will see that Leshunov (ranked #3, went #2) and Yakenchum (ranked #13, went #7) all were drafted higher than their rank because... drum rolls... THEY ARE RHD - which Dickinson isn't by the way. It's almost as if teams are desperately needing high-end RHD in their system.

I'm also not sure what you're yapping about Reinbacher but in his (very limited - 11 games) AHL stint in his D+1 he had very similar stats to Nemec D+1 season. Nemec also didn't make the jump in the NHL until after January of his D+2 and that was even forced because of injuries. Just because a D doesn't make the NHL at 19 years old doesn't mean he was a bad pick. You have to be a special kind of talent to be NHL ready at 18-19 years old if you're a big D.

For the last part (the bolded one) you still don't get it after months. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with Michkov or his height and everything to do with Montreal needing a top pairing RHD. I know your feelings got hurt when your boy Michkov dropped to 7 (which you have a weird obsession over by the way) but at some point, you have to let it go. Why don't you go pollute another fanbase thread instead about Michkov? Let me suggest Arizona/Utah and Simashev. I'm sure they are all eager to hear your thoughts on Michkov and how Simashev was also a terrible pick.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

He played well in limited minutes last game, so naturally he'll get even more limited minutes today

 

[ReimanSum1908]

Could we please move all these endless discussion about Reinbacher vs Michkov and so to the Reinbacher thread and leave this one only about Demidov.

Thanks to all!

It will literally never end unless one of them busts completely and is out of NHL consideration for five years or both of them have been retired for ten after successful NHL careers.

Strap in for it.

 

[Angler]

Came in to read about Demidov, only to find the same 3 posters that you see in every Habs related thread talking about Michkov and Reinbacher. The obsession is weird.

 

[Alex K]

Demidov is on a 4th line with Kuzmin and Zinchenko

 

[kp61c]

demoted to the fourth line

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

demoted to the fourth line

He played 1:49 in the first , demoted to 4th line for winning rookie of the month

He played well in limited minutes last game, so naturally he'll get even more limited minutes today

He's learning about respect

 

[Thomas Sowell]

This is pathetic. Stupid coach. Hope SKA misses playoffs so we get him over here ASAP

 

[JIMVINNY]

I think it's safe to say that with the same deployment that Michkov had last year, Demidov would most likely set a record for D+1 KHL point totals. Unfortunately, he's not going to get the chance. It sucks, but such is life. I have no doubt that he's going to slot into Montreal's top 6 and be an immediate contributor, but I think I'm done wasting time watching SKA games.

 

[Sombastate]

I think it's safe to say that with the same deployment that Michkov had last year, Demidov would most likely set a record for D+1 KHL point totals. Unfortunately, he's not going to get the chance. It sucks, but such is life. I have no doubt that he's going to slot into Montreal's top 6 and be an immediate contributor, but I think I'm done wasting time watching SKA games.

This isn't necessarily true. Michkov was on a god awful team. But i do wish we could have a more apples-to-apples comparison.

I am tickled pink by the people who talked non stop shit about Michkov for not making the big club, are now upset that Demidov is on SKA. Maybe we can finally learn to just agree that both are great prospects in bad situations and that the true tell will be the NHL

 

[samsagat]

I personally like Michkov.

I'm one of numerous Habs fans that wanted the team to draft him in 2023.

As for the comparison with Demidov, I think they're fairly different players.

Michkov is more of an offensive wizard while Demidov is more complete, as a player.

I like both about equal, but I personally think Demidov overall play is more the type you win championship with.

 

[Flynn84]

I think it's safe to say that with the same deployment that Michkov had last year, Demidov would most likely set a record for D+1 KHL point totals. Unfortunately, he's not going to get the chance. It sucks, but such is life. I have no doubt that he's going to slot into Montreal's top 6 and be an immediate contributor, but I think I'm done wasting time watching SKA games.

Not sure why this is safe to say lol
The same deployment is being loaned to one of the worst KHL teams?

Maybe Demidov still has a chance and will be loaned after all. If it continues like this, 5 minutes per game. I mean
Btw, it seems like Rotenberg liked Demidov more than Michkov, as Ivan was higher in the depth chart at the beginning of the last season. Rotenberg probably has no idea what to do with a young player that relies on his smarts most of the smarts. Demiov, on the other hand, plays a high-energy game and is simpler for a stupid coach to understand and use in his 'system'.
Not saying who's the better player between the two.

But as I wrote this, I remembered the rule, that player could not be loaned on the last year of his contract