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

[Sasha Orlov]

Could be as soon as next season that we are a top team in the league

Unless we get some serious defensive help this is not going to happen unfortunately

 

[ahmedou]

Friendly reminder that Ivan Demidov is the best hockey prospect on earth

*Friendly reminder that Ivan Demidov is the best generational talent of hockey*

 

[tazsub3]

Thank you Trevor Timmins, assistant director amateur scouting CBJ.

maybe we should thank MB as well for making Timmins learn how hard it is to trade for centers, so they have to draft them instead

Unless we get some serious defensive help this is not going to happen unfortunately

Offence os the best defence in the new NHL. And it is not like we are that bad on the back end.

 

[neopreneur]

For those that watch Demidov closely, what would you consider to be the areas he needs to improve upon in order to translate his success to the NHL?

 

[LaP]

If he busting in front of our own eyes?

 

[FrankMTL]

For those that watch Demidov closely, what would you consider to be the areas he needs to improve upon in order to translate his success to the NHL?

I would say strength is the biggest thing. He's not weak or anything, but he just turned 19 years old last month so he doesn't have his man strength yet.

 

[montreal]

For those that watch Demidov closely, what would you consider to be the areas he needs to improve upon in order to translate his success to the NHL?

he'll need to work on getting stronger, more explosive, he will give up on defensive zone plays sometimes or just kind of watch but nothing that will be any issues just things to improve on as the skill level is off the charts.

Just think he's about to break the U-20 goal scoring record and he's got 19 with 0 PP goals and 0 seconds played at 5 on 3 PP. This kid could have over 50 pts despite just turning 19 last month.

 

[Rapala]

he'll need to work on getting stronger, more explosive,

Is their a kid you haven't said this about.
Not that it isn't true.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Unless we get some serious defensive help this is not going to happen unfortunately

Thewre is nothing wrong with the defense now and it will be better if Reinbacher is ready.

 

[Bombshell11]

Live look @Bombshell11

Love your humour bro, keep up the positive energy

And in all seriousness:

 

[JadedRandom]

For those that watch Demidov closely, what would you consider to be the areas he needs to improve upon in order to translate his success to the NHL?

If Demidov went to the "Nick Suzuki school of being durable AF", got a bit stronger on his skates, and also a bit quicker, I actually think he'd be pretty much set to be a tremendous player in the NHL.

I say that but even as-is I genuinely think that Demidov has the smarts, skill, work ethic, and toolbox required to be great player in the NHL.

But if I was allowed to be a bit greedy, I'd like for Demidov to be able to succeed as a center in the NHL. He hasn't played that position full-time since before entering the MHL so at this point this is more or less wishful thinking, but it'd be great.

I mean, a 6'1, 195 pounds (likely 200 or so in a couple years as a pro) hypothetical center with elite traits across the board and no real weakness on the Habs? Haven't seen one in Montreal since the Damphousse days, but yeah, hit me up anytime.

 

[QJL]

I see a lot of back and forth on his position. Where is he playing? Has it been said what the Habs see him as?

 

[Kennerback]

Love your humour bro, keep up the positive energy

And in all seriousness:
View attachment 968505

I’m not saying you’re wrong. It’s just that I believed you when you said Mesar was a generational talent and I was crushed when it didn’t happen. Forgive me if I’m a bit guarded this time around.

 

[CrazyBob]

He need to work on his goaltending positioning. Thats his biggest flaw

 

[Sasha Orlov]

For those that watch Demidov closely, what would you consider to be the areas he needs to improve upon in order to translate his success to the NHL?

In all seriousness he really does not have any obvious weaknesses

He should get stronger and focus on not putting himself in positions where he’s vulnerable to having his knees taken out

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Is their a kid you haven't said this about.
Not that it isn't true.

Beck's recent, but brief, call up to the Canadiens, provides a very graphic illustration of the difference in speed/pace of the NHL game and the rest of the hockey world. In the AHL, Beck, now an All-Star, is a dynamic skater, who can blow by most opponents. In the NHL, his skating was barely noticeable. There are very few under 21 year old players who don't need to become stronger and faster to make and be effective at the NHL level. Most don't make it and find their ultimate hockey destinies in lower or overseas leagues.

That is why patience and circumspection is needed before we all anoint Demidov as our savior.

 

[Bombshell11]

I’m not saying you’re wrong. It’s just that I believed you when you said Mesar was a generational talent and I was crushed when it didn’t happen. Forgive me if I’m a bit guarded this time around.

i never said Mesar was gen, i said with a good shot he could be seen as one back in the day when he was alot more dynamic.

Its all about development and clearly the OHL path took a toll on his development, i am glad we at least Demidov got to stay in Russia and continue his development in a familiar environment.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Thewre is nothing wrong with the defense now and it will be better if Reinbacher is ready.

Reinbacher is not close, he has played 11 games in NA and it was in the AHL

I’m optimistic about him as a prospect but there’s no way he’s a top 4 NHL defenseman next season

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

View attachment 968446

Need someone who can do the fancy shit and have Demidov scoring a sick goal and then edit out Jason Bourne to just Demigod

Last 14 GP

13 Goals
7 Assists
20 Points

Is that how many games they've played since the Habs visited?

Everything blurs together, wo


Demidov makes it easy to fail NNN.

You know, you're just there watching Demidov and whip it out and play a Nickel back CD and fail No Nickleback November.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

I see a lot of back and forth on his position. Where is he playing? Has it been said what the Habs see him as?

Playing as a winger right now. Some rumours the Habs see him as a center, but he hasn't really played there at all at the pro level yet.

 

[Kennerback]

In all seriousness he really does not have any obvious weaknesses

He should get stronger and focus on not putting himself in positions where he’s vulnerable to having his knees taken out

He must have things to work on, it’s just hard to pinpoint. For example, defensively the NHL will be a step up. Players like Bedard and Celebrini are about -20. Bedard was -40 last season. Plus/Minus is an imperfect stat but the fact they’re bottom 3 on their respective teams is not a badge of honor. So Demidov could certainly work on getting smarter defensively.

 

[Habs Halifax]

For those that watch Demidov closely, what would you consider to be the areas he needs to improve upon in order to translate his success to the NHL?

That's a good question. One of the things I have done lately is to do blind spot checks and nit pick their flaws (said this a few times over the last few weeks). With Hutson and Caufield, you could have nit picked their size. You can't do that with Demidov.

What he needs is to play NHL games against those nasty D men who are very good at reducing time/space and play physical. He needs a taste of that so he can comprehend how to overcome it. KHL is a very competitive league but their D is just not as good as the NHL. Those top 4D in the NHL are very good at what they do.

What I like the most is Demidov's will power to overcome obstacles. He doesn't complain when times are rough and puts his head down and works at overcoming it. It's one of the most important development ingredients IMO.

 

[Matthew McConaughay]

I got the dam flu, just saw that my favorite Russian scored a hat trick.

 

[Redux91]

LETS GOOOOO

Not much longer kiddo!

 

[NotProkofievian]

The only thing I worry about with Demidov is taking a knee from some scrub like Laine did. That wide stance gives him tremendous lateral agility, but I can just see someone not accepting that they're beat and sticking a knee out.