Prospect Info: Ivan Demidov (2024 5th OA): SKA St. Petersburg (KHL): Part III - IN SASHA ORLOV WE TRUST

[Vachon23]

Hagel - B.Point - Kucherov

Slafkovsky - Suzuki - Demidov

See the similarity ?
Almost feel like a copy paste imo.

Laine and Caufield on the second line with a left handed defensive minded center (in the mold of Anthony Cirelli) could work as a good second line.

Kucherov is a top 5 player in the league and the best winger in the league, not very comparable

 

[Erika]

Kucherov is a top 5 player in the league and the best winger in the league, not very comparable

Who said Demidov can't reach that potential in the future ?
I'm not stating that Demidov will be as good right away as Kucherov and Slafkovsky is not as good as Hagel right now, but will be pretty soon.

If you check player by player, stylistic wise, the line composition is pretty similar... was is that hard to understand ?

 

[Vachon23]

Who said Demidov can't reach that potential in the future ?
I'm not stating that Demidov will be as good right away as Kucherov and Slafkovsky is not as good as Hagel right now, but will be pretty soon.

If you check player by player, stylistic wise, the line composition is pretty similar... was is that hard to understand ?

Chance that it’s happening are low though

That ligne is dominant because they have one of the best player in the league

 

[Erika]

Chance that it’s happening are low though

That ligne is dominant because they have one of the best player in the league

I agree, but at the same time I think Slafk, Suzuki and Demi together could be as good in a few years.
I think it's worth a shot to try.

Also, I have more confidence that Demidov can play to his full potential playing with Suzuki and Slaf than if he played with Laine and a newly acquired mid level 2C (or worst case scenario Dach).

When you have a diamond like Demidov, giving him the best options possible right from the start would be more beneficial for his development.

 

[Vachon23]

I agree, but at the same time I think Slafk, Suzuki and Demi together could be as good in a few years.
I think it's worth a shot to try.

Also, I have more confidence that Demidov can play to his full potential playing with Suzuki and Slaf than if he played with Laine and a newly acquired mid level 2C (or worst case scenario Dach).

When you have a diamond like Demidov, giving him the best options possible right from the start would be more beneficial for his development.

I do agree that it can be a very good line and it’s a line I would try. I also would prefer Demidov to play with Suzuki then with Laine

But to expect that line to be as good as the Point line and Demidov to be as good as Kucherov is putting the expectation way to high as much as I like him

 

[Paradoxe]

Hagel - B.Point - Kucherov

Slafkovsky - Suzuki - Demidov

See the similarity ?
Almost feel like a copy paste imo.

Laine and Caufield on the second line with a left handed defensive minded center (in the mold of Anthony Cirelli) could work as a good second line.

Building such a line would be no problem, but the question is now who we need to find for Caufield!

 

[Vachon23]

Building such a line would be no problem, but the question is now who we need to find for Caufield!

Hage/a futur UFA/1st pick of 25/Dach - 2 C - Caufield

 

[Boyon90]

Hagel - B.Point - Kucherov

Slafkovsky - Suzuki - Demidov

See the similarity ?
Almost feel like a copy paste imo.

Laine and Caufield on the second line with a left handed defensive minded center (in the mold of Anthony Cirelli) could work as a good second line.

Im not sure if you can undo caufield and suzuki, maybe if you keep them on with the pp, perhaps Laine - dach - demidov, dach can pass to both sides

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

Im not sure if you can undo caufield and suzuki, maybe if you keep them on with the pp, perhaps Laine - dach - demidov, dach can pass to both sides

I only see two options. Either keep the first line in tact and stick demidov on his own line OR stick Suzuki with Demidov and just load up the 2nd line with Slafkovsky, Caufield and whoever they get for 2C

 

[Vachon23]

Im not sure if you can undo caufield and suzuki, maybe if you keep them on with the pp, perhaps Laine - dach - demidov, dach can pass to both sides

You really don’t want to help Demidov That would be a terrible way to start his rookie season

 

[Jabba11]

Kucherov is a top 5 player in the league and the best winger in the league, not very comparable

And come back to me when Slaf is a PPG player. Hagel is already. And the last time we had a 80+ player before Nick Suzuki was 17 years ago.

Although, I do agree with your reasoning/argument to put a Slaf-Suzuki-Demidov line.

Which would make Caufield less productive though..

 

[Kennerback]

Caufield, Suzuki, Slaf works. It’s one of the most productive first lines in the NHL. You make a line with Demidov, Laine and the next best center available. On the PP you play Suzuki the full 2 minutes.

 

[JT3]

Not that Suzuki and Demidov will never be tried together, cause I'm sure they will, but I think the best idea is to let each of them drive their own line

 

[KevSkillz4]

Not that Suzuki and Demidov will never be tried together, cause I'm sure they will, but I think the best idea is to let each of them drive their own line

Yes 100% and anyway they will play together in the 1st PP unit.

Having Demidov on 2nd line, that's make already a better line up because Demidov is the type of player who will make his teammates better.

Demidov and Laine as a wingers on 2nd line, that's amazing, they are both easily 1st line talent.

 

[No More Subban]

Caufield, Suzuki, Slaf works. It’s one of the most productive first lines in the NHL. You make a line with Demidov, Laine and the next best center available. On the PP you play Suzuki the full 2 minutes.

Suzuki is so good, every top 6 winger needs him to be productive. I'm hoping Demidov can drive his own line so they don't have to depend on Suzuki all the time.

 

[Kojo]

Suzuki is so good, every top 6 winger needs him to be productive. I'm hoping Demidov can drive his own line so they don't have to depend on Suzuki all the time.

At some point they might try Slaf or Demidov at center.

 

[Vachon23]

Not that Suzuki and Demidov will never be tried together, cause I'm sure they will, but I think the best idea is to let each of them drive their own line

Don’t disagree but at least give him Slaf or the new center need to be very good. Can’t put him with Laine and Newhook and tell him to drive that line and carry those 2 on his rookie years.

Wouldn’t be against to see

Caufield-Suzuki-Dach
Slaf - 2 C - Demidov
Anderson - Newhook - Gallagher
Laine - Evans - Heineman

 

[JadedRandom]

Don’t disagree but at least give him Slaf or the new center need to be very good. Can’t put him with Laine and Newhook and tell him to drive that line and carry those 2 on his rookie years.

Wouldn’t be against to see

Caufield-Suzuki-Dach
Slaf - 2 C - Demidov
Anderson - Newhook - Gallagher
Laine - Evans - Heineman

I fully expect us to either sign a UFA to be a stop-gap C, or trade significant assets for one.

We will likely keep the first line intact and then give Demidov a good veteran C with some years left in the tank to get him started real nice on the second-line.

Caufild/Suzuki/Slaf
Laine/New center (Horvat I hope)/Demidov
Heineman/Beck/Newhook
Anderson/Evans/Gallagher

That would be our lineup next year I think. With Dach likely traded, Dvorak, Pezzetta, and Armia unsigned, and a slew of young prospects with varying potentials waiting in the wings.

 

[Natey]

Unfortunately, if SKA is eliminated today, we should expect them to send Demidov to the VHL or MHL as their affiliates are still in the playoffs there.

SKA NEVA St. Petersburg in the VHL (they won their 1st round series and await who they'll play in Round 2). And SKA-1946 in the MHL., who got a bye in the 1st round and are up 1-0 in their 2nd round series.

I mean, if they are keeping him for that reason - it's hard to complain. If they are keeping him but don't send him down, that's where I have a problem. Would I prefer him here? Yes. But we'd do the same thing with our players if they were eligible for Laval.

 

[Tyson]

I mean, if they are keeping him for that reason - it's hard to complain. If they are keeping him but don't send him down, that's where I have a problem. Would I prefer him here? Yes. But we'd do the same thing with our players if they were eligible for Laval.

As long as he is playing

 

[Kennerback]

I mean, if they are keeping him for that reason - it's hard to complain. If they are keeping him but don't send him down, that's where I have a problem. Would I prefer him here? Yes. But we'd do the same thing with our players if they were eligible for Laval.

VHL wouldn’t be that bad. MHL is just spinning his tires.

 

[Natey]

VHL wouldn’t be that bad. MHL is just spinning his tires.

I agree. But their assets have a very minimal amount of time they can help the organization if they have NHL dreams. It's smart business. I can't be mad at them if they send him to either. It's if they just don't send him anywhere but don't let him come.

 

[JT3]

Don’t disagree but at least give him Slaf or the new center need to be very good. Can’t put him with Laine and Newhook and tell him to drive that line and carry those 2 on his rookie years.

Wouldn’t be against to see

Caufield-Suzuki-Dach
Slaf - 2 C - Demidov
Anderson - Newhook - Gallagher
Laine - Evans - Heineman

For sure, I think they will do their best to address the 2c situation in the summer. I just mean in a big picture/long term sense, it'd be better to have each of Suzuki and Demidov drive their own line.

 

[Scriptor]

I agree that Demidov will be the play driver on his line. Suzuki is also a play driver and Caufield, this season, has been more of that.

Laine is not a play driver, but he whacks the puck with a driver for his one-timers.

Those fearing that, somehow, Demidov will be harmed by playing with Laine don't understand how useful a sniper like Laine can be for a premier playmaker like Demidov who also has a knack at drawing opposing defenders towards him.

This will free up Laine in his office to take shots on net.

The 2C is the key and Bo Horvat would be the ideal Center:

SCOUTING REPORT

Has grown into a shutdown center capable of making big contributions even when he is not generating a lot of offense. In addition, he has gotten much better at driving play--even when starting shifts in the defensive zone. He skates well and is among the NHL's best face-off men, meaning his team ends up with the puck more often than not. Is also a team leader who can play a lot of minutes at a high level.

Long Range Potential: Quality two-way center and leader.

Strong skater, good in the dot, solid as a shutdown C (insulation for Laine), able to be a secondary option as a play driver.

Precisely what Demidov and Laine need as a C.

Old Man Lou needs to get fired and the Isles need to start rebuilding.

They'd likely keep Barzal (signed to 6 more years) at 27 and move on more easily from Horvat (also signed for 6 more years) who just turned 30 yesterday.

Montreal would likely have to cough up Hage and at least one of their first round picks in 2025, a young up and coming D like Mailloux or Engström and a young, near NHL ready 3C prospect from Beck or Kapanen. Adding the PIT 2nd round pick in 2025 wouldn't hurt.

For 6 years of Horvat at 8.5M, Montreal would likely need to trade:

Mailloux
One of Beck or Kapanen
Michael Hage (1st round pick from 2024, 22nd OA)
CAL 1st round pick from 2025
PIT 2nd round pick from 2025

Might seem like a lot of futures, including a couple about to start playing NHL hockey, but why else would the Isles be willing to trade Horvat?

Would you do it for Horvat ages 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35?

I would, considering we would likely be in a Cup window three years from now with Horvat and Demidov in the lineup up front, plus Reinbacher in the lineup on the back end.

Next year, a lineup of:

Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsly
Laine - Horvát - Demidov
Newhook - Beck/kapanen - Heineman
Anderson - Evans - Gallagher

Guhle - Hutson
Matheson - Carrier
Xhekaj/Struble - Reinbacher

...would be a huge upgrade over this year's roster.

 

[Captain97]

Not that Suzuki and Demidov will never be tried together, cause I'm sure they will, but I think the best idea is to let each of them drive their own line

I actually think the team will be more productive with them operate at 5v5. They both want to control the play agree having each drive their own line is likely ideal