Lol at all the freaking out and splitting hairs over his ice time. It’s like people forget that SKA is a professional team with their own inner politics, social dynamics, morale, and human beings with egos to be managed.
No coach anywhere is going to just play an 18 year old over veterans right off the bat, especially one that is leaving next year. That would be an absolute slap in the face to the vets. SKA isn’t the Habs’ farm team - their decisions don’t revolve around what’s best for Demidov’s stat line. Some posters here need to get that though their heads.
The kid is going to be fine, and his usage has been fine. He looks good and is getting his reps. As long as that’s the case, there’s nothing to worry about.
Here’s the thing that some here need to understand; if and when he’s going to start getting more minutes and opportunities, and playing over the veterans, it’s going to be after a sustained period of solid play and hard work, some big goals, etc, where the coach will have some way to justify it, and more likely, when the veterans themselves start asking for him to be on their line and/or for him to get more minutes. That doesn’t happen a week into the season, Jesus Christ.
Have any of you played hockey before?