Player Discussion Ivan Demidov: Welcome to Montreal

[admiralcadillac]

Dude just stop it with the arguments. This thing started by me saying that Demidov should get regular shifts and get the opportunity to play an important role in the playoffs, and if MSL doesn't do so because he wants to play if safe, then I wasn't something I would support.

Then it became a shiny new toy argument, which I responded by saying that it's not becauae I want to see a shiny new toy, but because of the quality of the player. Then you came in by "oh but we don't know the quality because it's only been 2 games, and he makes defensive mistakes..."

You're the one pointing out defensive mistakes as a reason. I'm pointed out that everyone makes mistakes, like Matheson. He still plays because he's needed, and because he brings more than his mistakes. Which is why you need to evaluate Demidov in the same context. Does he bring more than his mistakes?

How much ice time would you have given Demidov tonight? Did he look effective to you?

I’n not suggesting he won’t be great…

 

[Canadienna]

Definitely a disappointing night for him tonight.

He has all the qualifiers in the world and lots of reasons to struggle (linemates, inexperience, age, new team, etc), but I was hoping he'd be good enough to make a difference through all that.

 

[G0bias]

I'd try him with Evans and Heineman.

It's a no-brainer at this point, Marty's an idiot if he keeps that line together. He needs to be able to deploy Demidov as a top player if we want a chance at winning this.

 

[ahmedou]

Heineman-Evans-Demidov

 

[Miller Time]

How much ice time would you have given Demidov tonight? Did he look effective to you?

I’n not suggesting he won’t be great…

It's crazy how the idea of Demidov has turned into this fantasy that he's both a key to our success and can only do it if he gets the best linemates lol

He's a phenomenal talent, the kind of which can electrify a crowd and flip a game on its head with one play.... And... He's an NHL newbie jumping into the fire, where each rookie mistake could just as easily bury his team.

MSL is doing the right thing easing him in, and if the kid proves a quick study and starts showing some capacity to play well in transition and in dzone coverage, his ES minutes will come...

 

[Paddy17]

How much ice time would you have given Demidov tonight? Did he look effective to you?

I’n not suggesting he won’t be great…

He got the right ice time tonight, given the circumstances and how he played.

I have no problem with his usage tonight. Like I said, you play him and you evaluate.

It would've different if he didn't touch the ice in the third because they wanted to overplay the 3 other lines.

 

[TeacherMan]

I'd try him with Evans and Heineman.

That line is taking defensive zone faceoffs right now. That would not play to Demi's strengths and he would be exposed

 

[HabsAddict]

Demidov...looked more like Roy the last two games. He's soft on the puck and on gaining possession. If it wasn't for the e first game, I would wonder if he got on the Habs bus and not the Rockets bus by mistake.

Don't get me wrong, I'm amazed by his talent...but all of it is off his first game.

He has to do more...even if that means getting his nose flattened.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

do people really think Demidov would be our savior in playoffs?

I love the kid , hes a future 1st liner but give him a break , dudes playing against Oveckhin and the second best team in the league in his 3rd NHL game.

Plays with 2 turds also.

 

[Naslundforever]

Demidov...looked more like Roy the last two games. He's soft on the puck and on the gaining possession. If it wasn't for the e first game, I would wonder if he got on the Habs bus and not the Rockets bus by mistake.

Don't get me wrong, I'm amazed by his talent...but all of it is off his first game.

He has to do more...even if that means getting his nose flattened.

yeah needs to get stronger says so himself.. Easier to bulk up a talented player than to make a bulky guy talented for sure.

There’s only one good center on the team so unless they swap Demidov with Caufield or Slaf with Laine I think they’ll be patient and poor 19yo Demidov has 2 very flawed one-trick ponies as line mates.

 

[Bombshell11]

Plays with 2 turds also.

End of story.... if they unleash Demidov with no chains he'll be the savior we have been waiting for but St.Louis took it upon himself to make sure that doesn't happen.

 

[Hacketts]

 

[HabsAddict]

yeah needs to get stronger says so himself.. Easier to bulk up a talented player than to make a bulky guy talented for sure.

There’s only one good center on the team so unless they swap Demidov with Caufield or Slaf with Laine I think they’ll be patient and poor 19yo Demidov has 2 very flawed one-trick ponies as line mates.

I would put Laine on the first rocket to Uranus with a one way ticket. Newhook is as wrong for Demi as Crusty the Clown.

We don't have line mates for him unless at the minimum we put him with Heiny and Evans.

 

[Scotianhab]

I would put Laine on the first rocket to Uranus with a one way ticket. Newhook is as wrong for Demi as Crusty the Clown.

We don't have line mates for him unless at the minimum we put him with Heiny and Evans.

Which we can’t do bc they get the Defensive zone Faceoffs. Need a 2nd C so badly. Put Newhook on the wing and buy out Laine this summer.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Which we can’t do bc they get the Defensive zone Faceoffs. Need a 2nd C so badly. Put Newhook on the wing and buy out Laine this summer.

Try trading him at 50% retained first, but if we have a pay to make it happen, then the buyout solution is certainly the right avenue and not a big impediment to our future cap. 3.9mil next season, 2.667 the final year, which is just a tad worst than trading him 50% retained.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Demibust

 

[CrashOut]

It's a no-brainer at this point, Marty's an idiot if he keeps that line together. He needs to be able to deploy Demidov as a top player if we want a chance at winning this.

Midway 2nd period I was telling why don't you play Demidov with Evans and Heineman. Obvious switch, that doesn't touch or hurt the team whatsoever.

Armia is a blackhole offensively so might aswell play him with Laine/Newhook and defend the whole shift.

Demidov won't touch the puck playing with Newhook/Laine.

Evans is actually good at keeping the puck for a little bit and drop it to his linemate. Heineman is good on the forecheck. Should be a mandatory change next game.

 

[Garbageyuk]

Which we can’t do bc they get the Defensive zone Faceoffs. Need a 2nd C so badly. Put Newhook on the wing and buy out Laine this summer.

Slafkovsky+ for McTavish. Hockey trade. Hughes should’ve traded Slaf+ for Cozens when he had the chance. I think he could’ve put together a package to get it done. Sabres apparently approached him about Cozens and he declined. Don’t know what they asked for though.

 

[The Last Red]

Slaf had a good 3rd period.

 

[JadedRandom]

It's crazy how the idea of Demidov has turned into this fantasy that he's both a key to our success and can only do it if he gets the best linemates lol

He's a phenomenal talent, the kind of which can electrify a crowd and flip a game on its head with one play.... And... He's an NHL newbie jumping into the fire, where each rookie mistake could just as easily bury his team.

MSL is doing the right thing easing him in, and if the kid proves a quick study and starts showing some capacity to play well in transition and in dzone coverage, his ES minutes will come...

I agree with you that the right thing is to not give a rookie too much ice to start.

But you call playing Demidov alongside the absolute blackhole that is Laine 5-on-5 "easing him in"?

If so, it's pretty clear that we have different views on what constitutes "easing in" a rookie.

And I don't know why but on the PP Matheson almost always defers to Suzuki, never passing to Demidov, so that cuts the puck-touches that Demidov gets even more.

At this point I'd bench Laine completely, give his spot to Caufield on PP1, and plug-in Demidov as the fourth forward on that powerplay.

Laine at 5-on-5 is just asking to get scored on at this point, as sad as it is to say.

 

[Marioesque]

I agree with you that the right thing is to not give a rookie too much ice to start.

But you call playing Demidov alongside the absolute blackhole that is Laine 5-on-5 "easing him in"?

If so, it's pretty clear that we have different views on what constitutes "easing in" a rookie.

And I don't know why but on the PP Matheson almost always defers to Suzuki, never passing to Demidov, so that cuts the puck-touches that Demidov gets even more.

At this point I'd bench Laine completely, give his spot to Caufield on PP1, and plug-in Demidov as the fourth forward on that powerplay.

Laine at 5-on-5 is just asking to get scored on at this point, as sad as it is to say.

Did you get the feeling at some point in this game that Demidov was doing something with the puck but the rest of the line wasn't up to supporting him?

Because I can't think of a moment. He wasn't suffering from his line necessarily, it's his first NHL playoff game and it's a lot to get used to. He'll get there, he can adapt. The expectation with him is that he'll be the puck carrier in his line and he didn't carry the puck much today.

Newhook can't win faceoffs so they are always starting shift without possession. It's a tough break for any line. You could try to alleviate that with using Evans there to get more puck possession time. But Marty isn't changing that because he has his vision

 

[Pazucha]

Demidov is 1 bad game away from a complete hab fans meltdown.

The same people who were hyping him to be the next Gretzky the minute he steps on the ice are now nervously saying that it was all jokes.

Just please take it easy, if he has another quiet game.

 

[Monsieur Miz]

Demidov needs to play with solid veterans. Laine is f***ing weird and Newhook sucks ass. Poor guy, honestly.

 

[CzarDemidov]

Demidov needs to play with solid veterans. Laine is f***ing weird and Newhook sucks ass. Poor guy, honestly.

Habs don't have depth or skill players to slot around but I wonder if Dvorak can't offer more as the de facto 2C instead of Newhook.

 

[Monsieur Miz]

Habs don't have depth or skill players to slot around but I wonder if Dvorak can't offer more as the de facto 2C instead of Newhook.

Dvorak was having good games at the end of the season, it's worth a try.