Prospect Info: Ivan Demidov (2024 5th OA): SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

[Sasha Orlov]

Skating, Skill, Size, Hockey IQ, Will Power to improve and overcome. All check marks.

Other fans laughed at us with our hype on Caufield and Hutson and compared the past hype we had on Poehling, Mete, Juulsen. This time around with Demidov, the non Habs fans who actually follow Demidov are either shutting their mouth or acknowledging we have a good one on our hands.

What are the flaws? This is the blind spot check with our hype. I find it very difficult to nit pick his flaws. Only thing I can say is the NHL is more physical than the KHL and there is a little less time and space. But yeah, hard to not believe Demidov's skating and skill won't overcome this

Only flaw imo is that I don’t know what his jersey number will be in Montreal so I can’t buy one yet

 

[waitin425]

One thing I have done lately to manage any gullible hype is to nit pick the flaws. I find that a good blind spot check. I for one have a hard time nit picking his flaws. With Caufield and Hutson, we could have used the size flaw. With Demidov, I see high grades in the following areas:

Size: Check
Skill: Check
Skating: Check
Hockey IQ: Check
Will Power to improve and overcome: Check

If you were to be picky, what would you point out for any flaws?

Nothing is obvious to me. Any flaws he may have....will be exposed by better competition in the NHL. Right now though.....he is tracking on an elite path. The likes of which we have not seen in Montreal since before most of us were born.

 

[Redux91]

Demidov 36 pts in 34 gp when he gets at least 9:15 TOI.

Theeeeres the real Stat ty lol

Also
Michkov on St Petersburg instead of his vacation in Sochi : 17 GP 2 G 3 A 5 Pts

 

[Habs Halifax]

Nothing is obvious to me. Any flaws he may have....will be exposed by better competition in the NHL. Right now though.....he is tracking on an elite path. The likes of which we have not seen in Montreal since before most of us were born.

I think the hype is real in this case.

The only area I would wonder about is the NHL has real physical defenseman who are very good at what they do. How does Demidov react to less time and space and more physicality. KHL is a very good hockey league but compared to the NHL, it does have a bit more time and space and not as much physicality as the NHL. Close but there is a difference.

I just feel Demidov moves his feet in traffic and that's how he overcomes the time/space. This is how Hutson is doing what he is doing... Skating, Edge work, Skill, and hockey IQ. Demidov has this as well and he has size to compliment it.

 

[montreal]

He reminds me a lot of Kaprizov. Like, a lot.

that would be my comp, I know he's said that's one of his favorite players.

 

[FrankMTL]

He has 10 goals and 7 assists in his last 11 games

 

[waitin425]

Thread 'Epic Calder Race 2025-26'

Yesterday at 3:16 PM

Is it truly to early to start this type of discussion? What do you guys think? Who are the favorites next year for the Calder? Will it be a currently drafted player? Or do any of the '25 draftees expect to hit the ice right away and take a run at this thing?

Let's hear it! This discussion will be fun to look at this time next year! Are we setting up for another "Epic" battle like this years class?

Demidov
Nikishin
Schaefer
Hagens
Sennecke

Who is your favorite?

• waitin425
• Replies: 14
• Forum: National Hockey League Talk

• 

I can't help myself

 

[Andy]

that would be my comp, I know he's said that's one of his favorite players.

The skating, the zone coverage, the way he shifts his body to find new lanes. It's eerie.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Michkov had 41 in 48

Right.. forgot his game with SKA

 

[Andy]

He has 10 goals and 7 assists in his last 11 games

WTF!

 

[Saundies]

Our Russian son is growing up before our eyes. As collective parents, we can be insanely proud.

All we had to do was complain loudly to his coach about his ice time. We truly are 'those' hockey parents.

 

[montreal]

Theeeeres the real Stat ty lol

Also
Michkov on St Petersburg instead of his vacation in Sochi : 17 GP 2 G 3 A 5 Pts

Demidov - Ave PP TOI 0:51
Demidov - PP Goals - 0

He could break the record for U-20 goals in a season and so far he's done it without a single PP goal. Take a look at how much PP TOI Michkov got (I would need to look up how many pts he got on the PP)

And another important thing is the Habs will get to watch Demidov in the KHL playoffs unlike Michkov

 

[windycity]

That was quite a spectacular goal.

Generational?

 

[HespelerGreenFlash]

If you want to nitpick something, you can take a look at his funky skating style. Someone mentioned it might make him prone to knee injuries, which sounds like a good analysis...

Again, only if we are looking to nitpick at something, because we all agree, he is one hell of a prospect ! We are all happy right now he fell to 5.
Generational or not, he is exactly what the team needed.

I think that Gretzky guy had a funky skating style. Dont know how that turned out for him.

 

[Chose]

I think that Gretzky guy had a funky skating style. Dont know how that turned out for him.

Good point, lol !

 

[windycity]

I just can’t believe we managed to get him at 5

What luck

About time we had some luck

 

[Habs Halifax]

Our Russian son is growing up before our eyes. As collective parents, we can be insanely proud.

All we had to do was complain loudly to his coach about his ice time. We truly are 'those' hockey parents.

What I like the most is he is developing in Russia and forcing them to give him more ice time. Starts his ELC for his age 19/20 season. The value we get over the next 3 years will be insane. With Hutson and Caufield, it was 2 years of ELC (basically)

Demidov is going to really test our patience in terms of making moves in UFA or trades now... to improve the team sooner rather than later.

 

[waitin425]

I think that Gretzky guy had a funky skating style. Dont know how that turned out for him.

Funny story....My dad (probably exaggerating) went to see Gretz when he played for the Soo with my Grandpa. My Grandpa declared that Gretzky was a terrible skater before the game and my dad said that at the game Gretzky was skating backward faster than anyone on the ice skating forward (the exaggeration part). He loved telling me that story. Both of them have passed...I hope they are up there still laughing at how stupid my Grandpa was, and how much my dad loved to embellish things!

 

[Saundies]

What I like the most is he is developing in Russia and forcing them to give him more ice time. Starts his ELC for his age 19/20 season. The value we get over the next 3 years will be insane. With Hutson and Caufield, it was 2 years of ELC (basically)

Demidov is going to really test our patience in terms of making moves in UFA or trades now... to improve the team sooner rather than later.

Great point. If we keep the main club on it's trajectory this season (in the playoffs or just missing), him coming over, IMO, is a bit of a mini window to take advantage of.

You'd have him and Lane still on their ELCs and you could surround them with talent to try to make a push. You don't have to go all crazy in free agency or anything but you could probably take on some short term money to make your team really competitive in the meantime and retool a little bit if it doesn't work.

 

[ahmedou]

45 GP, 16 Goals, 21 Assists, 37 Points

4.03 PTS/ 60 mins played

5 Points away from beating the highest ever point total for U20 season in the KHL

5 Goals away from beating the highest ever goal total U20 season in the KHL

#4

 

[rahad]

How many game do they play in the KHL in a season? 50? 60?

45 GP, 16 Goals, 21 Assists, 37 Points

4.03 PTS/ 60 mins played

5 Points away from beating the highest ever point total for U20 season in the KHL

5 Goals away from beating the highest ever goal total U20 season in the KHL



You can already see that Demidov will get another 2 points in his next game? lol

How many game do they play in the KHL in a season? 50? 60?

 

[Habano]

Man. Being a defenseman 1on1 against Demidov and seeing him pulling the puck back must be nervewrackin. You just know hes about to pull a crazy move on you

This is what goes on in the defenseman's head:

"Aw shit here comes that psycho again"

"OK I got him this time...........Hey, where the hell did he go?"

"Ahhhh f***!"

 

[Habs Halifax]

#4

View attachment 964811

Look at the difference in PP TOI between Kapizov and Demidov.

 

[ahmedou]

How many game do they play in the KHL in a season? 50? 60?

How many game do they play in the KHL in a season? 50? 60?

68

 

[Chose]

Look at the difference in PP TOI between Kapizov, Michkov and Demidov.

Fixed it for you