Player Discussion Ivan Demidov: Welcome to Montreal

[Ozmodiar]

He’s acclimatizing to the playoffs. Gaining confidence.

Would like to see him hold puck a little longer to make a play. That’s his bread and butter.
He’s passing to the point a little early at times - before drawing coverage or finding seam. A bit of a nitpick at this point I guess.

 

[Mrb1p]

He’s acclimatizing to the playoffs. Gaining confidence.

Would like to see him hold puck a little longer to make a play. That’s his bread and butter.
He’s passing to the point a little early at times - before drawing coverage or finding seam. A bit of a nitpick at this point I guess.

Confidence thing. He just needs one lucky break and the floodgates will open.

 

[kyne]

He keeps getting better, and his skill set pairs well with Hutson. As the game went on, he realized that he needed to increase his speed of execution and started to adjust. Those Capitals players are fast and physical. Their aggressive forecheck caught him a couple of times in the middle of a play and took him by surprise. I don't think he underestimates them next game.

 

[Kojo]

He’s acclimatizing to the playoffs. Gaining confidence.

Would like to see him hold puck a little longer to make a play. That’s his bread and butter.
He’s passing to the point a little early at times - before drawing coverage or finding seam. A bit of a nitpick at this point I guess.

He should keep things simple. Passing to the point is good for him. Next season he can do those fancy plays but now the season is on the line.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He keeps getting better, and his skill set pairs well with Hutson. As the game went on, he realized that he needed to increase his speed of execution and started to adjust. Those Capitals players are fast and physical. Their aggressive forecheck caught him a couple of times in the middle of a play and took him by surprise. I don't think he underestimates them next game.

Takes time to adjust. And it’s not just him. It’s the first playoff for a lot of guys. Even CC and Nick don’t have much postseason experience.

 

[Quatre Vingt Treize]

He played better game last night. I think better pick possession on his line. Zone entry looked more confident. Used his speed more. Loved taking out Wilson.

 

[Sorinth]

He played better game last night. I think better pick possession on his line. Zone entry looked more confident. Used his speed more. Loved taking out Wilson.

He's improved every game in the playoffs so far, and asserting himself with the puck and with the body more and more with every shift.

 

[Erika]

He should keep things simple. Passing to the point is good for him. Next season he can do those fancy plays but now the season is on the line.

Passing to the point consistently is a bit too passive imo. Even a scrub like Newhook or any 4th liner can pass the puck to the point. He has an important spot now on the powerplay. His role is to create havok and try to move the defensive box. I would like to see him to move his feet more when he doesn't have the puck instead of just staying stationnary...

Maybe it's him still adjusting to his teammates and trying to analyze the defensive coverages in the NHL.
I legit thought that he would have a bigger impact on the PP, but I guess that just shows how huge of a step the KHL is to the NHL.

It makes it even clearer just how much of a generational playmaking skills with elite hockey IQ Nikita Kucherov is in that spot. Demidov still has a long way to go.

If Demidov in his prime can reach 75% of Kucherov's status, I would be happy tbh.

 

[Kojo]

If Demidov in his prime can reach 75% of Kucherov's status, I would be happy tbh.

Kucherov was playing in the junior, Demidov is playing in the NHL playoffs at 19 years old.

If Demidov was playing in the minors he would have as many points or more than Kucherov had.

Passing to the point gives him an opportunity to get going since he's not used to the fast pace of the NHL.

 

[Erika]

Kucherov was playing in the junior, Demidov is playing in the NHL playoffs at 19 years old.

If Demidov was playing in the minors he would have as many points or more than Kucherov had.

not sure what you are talking about here. I don't care what Kucherov did at 19. I was talking about Prime Kucherov. The 3 times Art Ross winner, mutiple 120+ points seasons. A player many compares to Demidov's potential.

I just stated that Demidov still has a long way to go to even touch Kucherov's level.

 

[Kojo]

not sure what you are talking about here. I don't care what Kucherov did at 19. I was talking about Prime Kucherov. The 3 times Art Ross winner, mutiple 120+ points seasons. A player many compares to Demidov's potential.

I just stated that Demidov still has a long way to go to even touch Kucherov's level.

Good for him but this is a thread about Demidov. You said you don't care about what Kucherov did at 19 so what's the point arguing with you.

 

[Erika]

Good for him but this is a thread about Demidov.

So we can't talk about players comparisons now ?
not sure if you are trolling or not, but ok.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

He’s acclimatizing to the playoffs. Gaining confidence.

Would like to see him hold puck a little longer to make a play. That’s his bread and butter.
He’s passing to the point a little early at times - before drawing coverage or finding seam. A bit of a nitpick at this point I guess.

Yup. Kind of like CC during the Cup run. He’d defer to his linemates a lot. Demidov seems to be doing it in a more hot potato way. But yeah you can see the confidence slowly growing.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

So we can't talk about players comparisons now ?
not sure if you are trolling or not, but ok.

No Kuch for you! Thread banned! One year!

 

[Kojo]

No Kuch for you! Thread banned! One year!

Talking about Kuch, jail. Not talking about Kuch, right to jail also

 

[crosbyshow]

Guys Nikita Kucherov is for me the second best Power Play player in history of hockey after....Mario Lemieux...and I am dead serious.

From that spot Kucherov is the second best ... Mario was on the other side.

So Demidov will be on the same Kucherov's spot for many years to come.

To reach Kuch's level on the pp is almost impossible for him. Kucherov is a chief orchestra...a magician.

Kucherov is also as smooth as Lemieux was on the PP. He is like me in my living room..lol

 

[JIMVINNY]

I hope he skates with his head up tonight. That little slew foot on Wilson was certainly deserved, but now he's probably got a target on his back.

 

[Redux91]

Keep an eye on Ivan tonight
I think he has a moment.

 

[Ezpz]

Keep an eye on Ivan tonight
I think he has a moment.

This is my moment. I'll never get another chance to use this one.

 

[Next Best Thing]

Demidov been a non factor in this playoff

Ok

 

[Matthew McConaughay]

Keep an eye on Ivan tonight
I think he has a moment.

I think he will score his first playoffs goal.

 

[TomKosto]

Ok

He’s not wrong. He was better last game but non really a factor so far…which is fine cause he is 19…expectations were wayyyyyyy too high.

P’aying on the first PP unit gonna be good for him.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Demidov been a non factor in this playoff

For the most part but he’s been steadily improving each game. Looked good on the 1st unit. I was expecting more but I’m happy all in all how he’s dealing.

 

[Erika]

Demidov been a non factor in this playoff

Yup, I was expecting way more after his elite performance in his first NHL game and all the hype surrounding him being the best player outside the NHL by a big margin.

Imo, big part of it is because the Chicago Blackhawks are that bad. He probably played vs AHL level defense, no joke.

The NHL playoffs is an entirely different story. It's like he has no space to do his magic against a NHL caliber defense...

He is still going to be elite, but he probably still needs 2 or 3 years before reaching that status.

 

[Miller Time]

Keep an eye on Ivan tonight
I think he has a moment.

It's definitely coming sooner than later... He's looking more and more comfortable with the defensive assignments. That should start translating both to increased 5on5 ice time and more assertiveness on his part.