Player Discussion Ivan Demidov: Welcome to Montreal

[Bombshell11]

Lots of people here with tunnel vision

Put demidov on the 1st, its going to improve the first and so on

While 3 others lines struggle

Gotta be the most logic deprived comment made so far.

if you take Slaf off the first line he’s going to tank the 2nd line? And the other lines will become worst because Slaf is on the second?

 

[Kennerback]

Gotta be the most logic deprived comment made so far.

if you take Slaf off the first line he’s going to tank the 2nd line? And the other lines will become worst because Slaf is on the second?

Slaf can’t drive a line. For example, Laine-Newhook-Slaf might the most ill-conceived line ever. We know for a fact that no production can be expected from it.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

Slaf can’t drive a line. For example, Laine-Newhook-Slaf might the most ill-conceived line ever. We know for a fact that no production can be expected from it.

Has that line ever been tried? I don't recall.

 

[habinthepeg]

Why they’ve outperformed opposition bottom-6 all year - Habs have the most number of players w 10G+ in the league and the bottom-6 collective of 93G was ranked tops in the league as well

First of all, these stats are highly contingent on who you select as your "bottom 6." The Dvorak/Gallagher line had ~as many games playing with more ice time than the "2nd" line.

Beyond that, and most importantly, it's ridiculous to claim that the last placed team in the playoffs, and a mid offensive team and a poor defensive team, has the best bottom 6 in the NHL. Doesn't pass the sniff test. We don't have even close to the depth to claim something like that. We were regularly icing Kapanen and Pezzetta in the latter part of the season, and not because we were decimated by injuries or something.

 

[salbutera]

First of all, these stats are highly contingent on who you select as your "bottom 6." The Dvorak/Gallagher line had ~as many games playing with more ice time than the "2nd" line.

Beyond that, and most importantly, it's ridiculous to claim that the last placed team in the playoffs, and a mid offensive team and a poor defensive team, has the best bottom 6 in the NHL. Doesn't pass the sniff test. We don't have even close to the depth to claim something like that. We were regularly icing Kapanen and Pezzetta in the latter part of the season, and not because we were decimated by injuries or something.

Bottom-6:

Gallagher-Dvorak-Anderson
Heineken-Evans-Armia

Those two lines dominated their opposition > 80% of the season.

Should check out Habs record w & w/o Heineken… it’s quite drastic & revealing about the sum of all parts construction of this team.

Since Dec 15:
19-4-7 w Heineken
10-11-1 w/o Heineken

As for “lack of depth”, as I stated no other team a had the # of 10G+ scorers in their lineup. Also, isolate stats pre vs post Dec 15 (last 4-months of season), Habs GF is top-12 in the league

Habs horrendously poor first 2-months of the season + lack of 2nd line threat has skewed their data significantly

Worth repeating for last 4months of the season (67%) Habs have pretty identical record to Caps - this “last placed team in the playoffs” is misleading IMO

 

[Kennerback]

Has that line ever been tried? I don't recall.

I don’t recall either. But I’ve seen enough Slaf-Newhook and Slaf-Laine that I want to stay away.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

I don’t recall either. But I’ve seen enough Slaf-Newhook and Slaf-Laine that I want to stay away.

I have seen enough of Laine that i want to stay away. I think he holds everyone back on any line he's on.

 

[Kennerback]

I have seen enough of Laine that i want to stay away. I think he holds everyone back on any line he's on.

On the other hand, despite the fact it’s a non-starter, I’m very confident Slaf-Newhook-Demidov would work. And I’m not a Newhook fan at all.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

On the other hand, despite the fact it’s a non-starter, I’m very confident Slaf-Newhook-Demidov would work. And I’m not a Newhook fan at all.

I think that line has potential, however they would have fits if they get pinned in their own zone. Newhook is not good in his own zone. Not responsible enough to be a middle 6 C IMO. He's better as a winger.

 

[DAChampion]

On the other hand, despite the fact it’s a non-starter, I’m very confident Slaf-Newhook-Demidov would work. And I’m not a Newhook fan at all.

Who the goes on the first?

 

[Kennerback]

Who the goes on the first?

That’s the problem. And why it’s a non-starter. There are better solutions looking at the big picture. I was just referring about that line working in a vacuum.

 

[CrazyBob]

As good as Demidov is I think the 1st line is set in stone for now. They all complete each other too well to separate. Demidov gonna have to stay on the second line for now

 

[Paddy17]

Let's take a moment to appreciate what we've gotten.

1. We were able to draft Demidov at #5 last year.
2. We're in the playoffs.
3. Demidov will play in these playoffs, on the tails of a terrific D+1 year.

Three hopeful events with the stars aligned perfectly.

Think about that for a moment.

 

[Gustave]

Let's take a moment to appreciate what we've gotten.

1. We were able to draft Demidov at #5 last year.
2. We're in the playoffs.
3. Demidov will play in these playoffs, on the tails of a terrific D+1 year.

Three hopeful events with the stars aligned perfectly.

4. We have a Calder trophy winner on our blueline, who now subs as Demidov’s driver.

 

[Kennerback]

Let's take a moment to appreciate what we've gotten.

1. We were able to draft Demidov at #5 last year.
2. We're in the playoffs.
3. Demidov will play in these playoffs, on the tails of a terrific D+1 year.

Three hopeful events with the stars aligned perfectly.

This is obviously unforeseen, but to me it’s an incredible break. If he came in only early next season, the story wouldn’t be the playoffs and the Habs, it would be only Demidov all the time for weeks.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Why people want to have the kid start out his career with the toughest matchups in the playoffs instead of being in an exploitation role where he can thrive is beyond silly.

Our first line has been terrific especially for how young it is. Breaking it up now is just wild.

 

[26Mats]

Man, if Dach ever reaches his potential:
Slafkovsky-Dach-Demidov

Yeah, we shouldn't count on Dach for next year. But he still has potential long term. It may take time for him to fully come back from back to back knee injuries.

next year he can play bottom six wing, and we go from there.

I also wouldn't mind seeing Caufield - Suzuki - Laine. Just to see how it goes. Though for now, I like Slaf's board work and puck protection on that line. And I don't see MSL changing it.

 

[26Mats]

If it’s a 2 year bridge, then I don’t think they’ll need the perfect replacement. Just a noticeable upgrade.

If they go long term, then they’ll need an ideal player - like Horvat.

I would be very happy to see Duchene or Granlund as a two year bridge. We'll see what HuGo do...

 

[Skip Bayless]

He already knows how to shit talk

 

[Jabba11]

He already knows how to shit talk

Probably taken out of context

And his English is not the best but I'm sure he kept his answers short and meant something like he prefers Malkin's game to Ovy's.

 

[Kennerback]

Probably taken out of context

And his English is not the best but I'm sure he kept his answers short and meant something like he prefers Malkin's game to Ovy's.

I saw it. He seems to have wanted to say that he modeled his style more on Malkin’s than Ovechkin’s. I just don’t think “model” or “style” are in his vocabulary yet. At that level of English, everything comes out as black or white.

 

[Jabba11]

I saw it. He seems to have wanted to say that he modeled his style more on Malkin’s than Ovechkin’s.

Glad to hear that cause I don't think you want to poke Papa bear. These young Russians need to learn from Svechnikov.

 

[CrazyBob]

Probably taken out of context

And his English is not the best but I'm sure he kept his answers short and meant something like he prefers Malkin's game to Ovy's.

Even if it was out of context this is the kinda quote that could motivate Washington even more. He should not say anything

 

[Kennerback]

Even if it was out of context this is the kinda quote that could motivate Washington even more. He should not say anything

If a comment in beginner English not considering context can motivate them, more power to Washington.

 

[Fledgemyhedge]

Even if it was out of context this is the kinda quote that could motivate Washington even more. He should not say anything

With laines comment too we randomly come across as Ovie haters which is hilarious because everyone’s been honoring the hell out of him lately.