I’m a bit disappointed, I was expecting an impact similar to Caufield when he came up, but to be fair, he’s younger, came later into the season, and he’s not playing with players who can match his skills.
Player Discussion Ivan Demidov: Welcome to Montreal
- Thread starter KevSkillz4
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DAChampion
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We saw what Caulfield can do with 4th liners the following season. I think he had 1 goal after 40 games.
It's foolish to think he would be an immediate difference maker. It's clear the first game in the series really intimidated him. To a culture shocked and inexperienced kid like him, an NHL playoff series is like being dropped in the middle of an intense war between well-prepared opponents. You have to experience it to understand, and the learning curve is steep. He's adapting and that is encouraging. I'm happy with that. It's going to make him a better player. Any scoring he provides is simply gravy.
People calling him a sureshot 100pts, gonna win the Conn Smythe, sure thing calder Winner, would not trade him for a Robert Thomas, etc
I mean the guy development is on track. He did reallllyyyy well in the KHL, but to think someone coming from the KhL at 19 would dominate in the playoff is absurd. It’s not like Kaprizov when he was 23.
He’s gonna need time. Defensive aspect of the game is not there, he look lost at time, which is more than ok.
People just need to temper expectations, this forum is so crazy sometimes.
Having read Kev’s posts for a while, this was most likely pure sarcasm
ahmedou
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Sasha Orlov
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Yeah...he has had zero NHL coaching. He looks lost because he is. He is playing on instinct right now. When he gets the puck on his stick the talent is so f***ing obvious. It's playing without the puck that he has no clue what he is doing right now. That'll come. No doubt about it.
Sasha Orlov
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He didn’t look lost at all last night imo, he got better with every shift
I expect his confidence will grow very quickly with the bell centre crowd roaring at every touch of the puck
I hope so! Different perspectives I suppose on how he looked without the puck. For me.....we need to put him into position to succeed. That doesn't mean breaking up the 1st line. To me it means put him on the PP1 instead of Laine. Time and Space + Demidov = chef's kiss
Sasha Orlov
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River Meadow
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dackelljuneaubulis02
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Yep. Same. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if he plays better in front of the home crowd. I think they all will.
River Meadow
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Nah....he will come back down. Kev is one of my faves on here. Always positive
River Meadow
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100%
It might even be as early as tomorrow, tbh.
Demidov in front of our home crowd, with playoffs atmosphere, he should be feeling much more comfortable and confident.
Kudo Shinichi
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Well that's because you're thinking of the Caufield in the jets/vegas/tampa series.
Caufield didn't do much in his first playoff series against Toronto. Just like Demidov, Caufield took time to adjust to the playoffs pace.
It was starting from the jets series that Caufield started to look good.
In the Toronto series, he had 0 goals and 1 assist in 5 games.
If Kev really think that Demidov is a bust, then the Habs are doomed.
No way that was real from him.
River Meadow
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LaP
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Jeff Skinner is one of the best example of a guy who started strong and did not progress. His 2nd best season in career remain his 1st season. Skinner's first season at 18 years old is as good as MacKinnon 18 years old season and better than Draisalt 19 years old season. Anothere exemple is Ryder. Ryder was older when he started at 23 but his first season ended up being his best season in career. Other guys start super slowly like Wilson and then progress a lot in their mid 20ies. Datsyuk took a few seasons to get going too.
It really is a case by case basis and you never really know until the players are 23 outside of guys like Crosby and Ovi and McJesus. Some fans will tell you THEY know but yeah Dunning-Kruger effect in action. Outside of a few elite+++ talents it's very hard to predict development curve from 18 to 23.
Kudo Shinichi
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