Player Discussion Ivan Demidov: Welcome to Montreal

[sandviper]

I can tell you that within his first week in NA, there was criticism from one or two big names of Russian hockey on how SKA handled his situation, and how they could have made a better effort to keep him longer. It was not an official memo from the KHL.

I've been looking for it now, but I need to translate articles so it's not easy. I was reading everything Demidov related online at that time. Ex post facto, it looks almost exclusively positive reporting. If you don't believe me, that this was said, I will continue looking until I find it.

BU and maybe some of the higher ups at the university were probably disappointed Celebrini left but going to the NHL would be the best thing for his professional aspirations and they’d support that.

Thus, two things can be true.

I am sure some KHL execs were not happy about Demidov leaving and maybe they expressed that as such but letting him go will have benefits to him and the team/league (perception, possible future business opportunities, general goodwill).

 

[Skip Bayless]

He has the most talent of anyone on the roster but is very raw as a player. He will need a few years in the league before dominating play.

I don' think he's that raw tbh. He might become one of the premier 2-way fwds in the game.

Excellent understanding of the game in general...Gets hypnotized by the puck a bit, but that's like every other player his age.

 

[OldCraig71]

I don' think he's that raw tbh. He might become one of the premier 2-way fwds in the game.

Excellent understanding of the game in general...Gets hypnotized by the puck a bit, but that's like every other player his age.

Without the puck he is lost a bit but that might be a result of a new team with a new system to learn. I see him as a 80-100 point player for sure.

 

[Marioesque]

I don' think he's that raw tbh. He might become one of the premier 2-way fwds in the game.

Excellent understanding of the game in general...Gets hypnotized by the puck a bit, but that's like every other player his age.

I could see him having a massive rookie season if the stars align. If they get a good 2nd line two way center who wins face offs, that will help him out. If Laine has a good off season and the knee is better, that will provide Demidov a lot of room to shine offensively.

There's some warts with any young player, but he's ready for a 2nd line offensive role with other offensive talent. Maybe 1st line at some point, but I just don't see MSL making those changes, he's not for experimenting. Better to make 2 really good lines than focusing on just 1. And of course the 2nd line can always outperform the 1st and switch the roles. Now that would be some great internal competition.

 

[KevSkillz4]

He show already that he is going to be a 90-100 pts producer every year in this league. His passing ability on PP 1st unit, that's Kucherov-esque lol!

He is the real deal and he will prove next year why he should have been gone 2nd overall easily.

 

[Paddy17]

Really good that he got to see playoff hockey. It must have been a little humbling. I bet he’s going to work very hard to be better this summer after getting taste of hockey at its highest level.

He needs to work on his strength and power. Needs more explosion and speed. Also needs to move around more on the PP. He was very static in the last game. It'll come.

 

[sandviper]

He show already that he is going to be a 90-100 pts producer every year in this league. His passing ability on PP 1st unit, that's Kucherov-esque lol!

He is the real deal and he will prove next year why he should have been gone 2nd overall easily.

Hopefully he adds another move other than that inside out he does a lot. Defenders will pick up on that.

But yeah, kid has skills.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Hopefully he adds another move other than that inside out he does a lot. Defenders will pick up on that.

But yeah, kid has skills.

His hockey IQ is already top notch, so I'm not worried about defenders against him. This guy is something else when he can show his passing ability and hands.

He will be very special for sure, never be physical like Ovechkin, but this guy isn't afraid.

Management need just to acquire a solid top 6 C for him... or Suzuki, but I think Slaf-Suzuki-Caufield, that's a lock to me.

 

[sandviper]

His hockey IQ is already top notch, so I'm not worried about defenders against him. This guy is something else when he can show his passing ability and hands.

He will be very special for sure, never be physical like Ovechkin, but this guy isn't afraid.

Management need just to acquire a solid top 6 C for him... or Suzuki, but I think Slaf-Suzuki-Caufield, that's a lock to me.

Even when he wasn’t scoring, he had moments where he was giving Washington fits when he carried the puck. Sure, he could stand to get stronger but he’s only 19.

But yeah, definitely needs a true top-6 center to play with him. I really wish Dach worked out as a center we could rely on (I chose my words carefully here) because his skills and tools checks a lot of boxes off. He just can’t seem to stay healthy nor win any faceoffs.

Hage looks promising but he’s just too far away developmentally.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Even when he wasn’t scoring, he had moments where he was giving Washington fits when he carried the puck. Sure, he could stand to get stronger but he’s only 19.

But yeah, definitely needs a true top-6 center to play with him. I really wish Dach worked out as a center we could rely on (I chose my words carefully here) because his skills and tools checks a lot of boxes off. He just can’t seem to stay healthy nor win any faceoffs.

Hage looks promising but he’s just too far away developmentally.

100% agree with you. First season of Dach with Habs have been really promising. But injuries... not help him.

Hage, solid talent aswell, but that will take time for him!

 

[Zalos]

Hutson has 60 pts in his last 66 games (season+playoffs). He'll quite probably do more than 65pts next season, since he won't wait 22 games before getting PP1 time, and while he might get a sophomore slump, i find it more probable that he'll improve. It's actually funny and shows a certain bias when you have Slaf getting almost 10 more points, yet have Hutson stagnate.

No, it's normal for a forward to get more points, especially Slaf who is showing improvement every year.

Defensemen, on the other hand, rarely get that many points, even the best ones in the league. Hutson has played a single season in the NHL. Too early for me to believe that he will always produce at that rate.

 

[Bombshell11]

No, it's normal for a forward to get more points, especially Slaf who is showing improvement every year.

Defensemen, on the other hand, rarely get that many points, even the best ones in the league. Hutson has played a single season in the NHL. Too early for me to believe that he will always produce at that rate.

Slaf wont have more points

He’ll be on the second line next year

Hutson will be a ppg because of Demidov

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

No, it's normal for a forward to get more points, especially Slaf who is showing improvement every year.

Slaf has 1 more points in 3 games less played compared to last season, so no, in terms of production, he hasn't shown improvement every year. He has stagnated. Your whole argument on forward vs dman is pointless since Hutson outscored him at the same age despite having less pro experience. He also outscored him in the playoffs. If you take season+playoffs, Hutson outscored him by 18 points with 3 more games played.

Defensemen, on the other hand, rarely get that many points, even the best ones in the league. Hutson has played a single season in the NHL. Too early for me to believe that he will always produce at that rate.

You can try to rationalize your bias all you want, but it remains a bias, when you think one player will improve (when he stagnated), while giving no room for improvement to the other who has shown improvement throughout his rookie season.

Hutson had 11 points in his first 21 games (or 13 in 23 if you count the previous season). He improved and had 55 points in his remaining 61 games. 60 in 66 if you count the playoffs.

Dmen rarely get that many points, but some do. Hutson tied two 44 years old records by a rookie dman and finished top 5 all-time in points. That's something only Makar and Hughes could've done with enough games played. Those two dmen kept improving.

Essentially, you're refusing to believe Hutson can improve. Refusing to believe he's in a rare class, a rare breed that CAN get that many points, but everything is possible for Slaf.

Bias, bias, bias

 

[Zalos]

Slaf has 1 more points in 3 games less played compared to last season, so no, in terms of production, he hasn't shown improvement every year. He has stagnated. Your whole argument on forward vs dman is pointless since Hutson outscored him at the same age despite having less pro experience. He also outscored him in the playoffs. If you take season+playoffs, Hutson outscored him by 18 points with 3 more games played.



You can try to rationalize your bias all you want, but it remains a bias, when you think one player will improve (when he stagnated), while giving no room for improvement to the other who has shown improvement throughout his rookie season.

Hutson had 11 points in his first 21 games (or 13 in 23 if you count the previous season). He improved and had 55 points in his remaining 61 games. 60 in 66 if you count the playoffs.

Dmen rarely get that many points, but some do. Hutson tied two 44 years old records by a rookie dman and finished top 5 all-time in points. That's something only Makar and Hughes could've done with enough games played. Those two dmen kept improving.

Essentially, you're refusing to believe Hutson can improve. Refusing to believe he's in a rare class, a rare breed that CAN get that many points, but everything is possible for Slaf.

Bias, bias, bias

Damn you taking this quite personally.

There's no bias. I explained to you why I expect Slaf to do better next year (he has shown growth every year, including this one). Hutson has one season under his belt. Cautious and rational people, like me, will wait a couple seasons before putting a player in a certain category. When Lane gets multiple 65+ points seasons then I'll believe he could potentially get 75+ points.

Anyway, my initial post wasn't even meant to be negative toward any one player. I just thought the poster I was responding to was way too emotional and expected too much of certain players.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Damn you taking this quite personally.

You can keep your fabulations to yourself. That shield you used is infantile. Because you receive arguments that derail your pov, you try to paint that as 'taking it personally'. It's lame, pedantic and lazy. Is that really how you react when confronted with arguments that contradict your pov? You're not as rational as you think.

There's no bias. I explained to you why I expect Slaf to do better next year (he has shown growth every year, including this one).

No he hasn't. We're talking of production. If you want to call it improvement, it's marginal. It's less than 0.05 ppg in improvement. Yes it is bias on your part. He improved from 50 points in 82 games to 51 in 79 games, but suddenly he'll get to 60 points. It's bias pure and simple, to afford one player with improvement he hasn't had, while refusing it to another player who has shown more progression in much lesser time.

Hutson has one season under his belt. Cautious and rational people, like me,

No you're not cautious nor rational. You don't even have enough self-awareness to recognize your own biases. Furthermore, to be cautious, you wouldn't add 10 points to a player who had an improvement of a single point between his latest two seasons, and to be rational, you need to include all factors, which includes Hutson getting PP1 from game 1, instead of game 22, which should boost his points. Being rational, you'd also realize that having Demidov at 70 points (your take) means Hutson's time in boosting the second line will get him more points and finally, one who is rational would also include an objective view of Hutson who is highly competitive and strives to improve, but you do none of that.

will wait a couple seasons before putting a player in a certain category. When Lane gets multiple 65+ points seasons then I'll believe he could potentially get 75+ points.

This is emblematic of your bias. Hutson has 60 points in his last 66 games, as a rookie, but you refuse to believe he can carry this improvement (from 11 pts in 21 games) towards a full 82 games season, while on the other hand putting Slaf in a category he doesn't himself belong in yet. Slaf hasn't proven he's a 60 point player yet either, but somehow one player is allowed improvement while the other isn't. That's bias, even if you refuse to ackowledge it.

Anyway, my initial post wasn't even meant to be negative toward any one player. I just thought the poster I was responding to was way too emotional and expected too much of certain players.

And I find you do the same thing with Slaf, and are being too emotional since you were insecure enough to pretend to know my state of mind (taking this personally), when all I have done is express arguments to show your bias. There was absolutely nothing I wrote that could objectively be shown as "taking it personally", but you went there anyway.

Don't bother responding. I've had enough fake rationality and fake caution for one day.

 

[Zalos]

You can keep your fabulations to yourself. That shield you used is infantile. Because you receive arguments that derail your pov, you try to paint that as 'taking it personally'. It's lame, pedantic and lazy. Is that really how you react when confronted with arguments that contradict your pov? You're not as rational as you think.



No he hasn't. We're talking of production. If you want to call it improvement, it's marginal. It's less than 0.05 ppg in improvement. Yes it is bias on your part. He improved from 50 points in 82 games to 51 in 79 games, but suddenly he'll get to 60 points. It's bias pure and simple, to afford one player with improvement he hasn't had, while refusing it to another player who has shown more progression in much lesser time.



No you're not cautious nor rational. You don't even have enough self-awareness to recognize your own biases. Furthermore, to be cautious, you wouldn't add 10 points to a player who had an improvement of a single point between his latest two seasons, and to be rational, you need to include all factors, which includes Hutson getting PP1 from game 1, instead of game 22, which should boost his points. Being rational, you'd also realize that having Demidov at 70 points (your take) means Hutson's time in boosting the second line will get him more points and finally, one who is rational would also include an objective view of Hutson who is highly competitive and strives to improve, but you do none of that.



This is emblematic of your bias. Hutson has 60 points in his last 66 games, as a rookie, but you refuse to believe he can carry this improvement (from 11 pts in 21 games) towards a full 82 games season, while on the other hand putting Slaf in a category he doesn't himself belong in yet. Slaf hasn't proven he's a 60 point player yet either, but somehow one player is allowed improvement while the other isn't. That's bias, even if you refuse to ackowledge it.



And I find you do the same thing with Slaf, and are being too emotional since you were insecure enough to pretend to know my state of mind (taking this personally), when all I have done is express arguments to show your bias. There was absolutely nothing I wrote that could objectively be shown as "taking it personally", but you went there anyway.

Don't bother responding. I've had enough fake rationality and fake caution for one day.

Take a breather, my dude. Look at your avatar. I'm Howard in this context.

You went on a rant because I dared predict the same number of points for Hutson next year and an extra 10 points for our big 1st line power forward. And you made it sound like I trashed Hutson and called Slaf the next Gretzky.

Like I said, don't take things so personal.

Back to the OT, I expect Demidov will be the top dog for Calder next year. Still, I wouldn't give him the trophy too early.

 

[Kennerback]

I expect Demidov to already outscore Slaf next year. That’s the normal order of things. An elite skilled forward should outscore a big physical forward.

 

[Dagistitsyn]

Elite potential, probably a lock for rookie of the year next year regardless.. he is going to pick up a lot of assists on the 1PP unit, but how much damage he does at even strength depends on Kent Hughes.
He absolutely needs to do everything he can to acquire another top 6 C so this kid doesn’t have to be weighed down with absolute plugs like Newhook.

 

[StCaufield]

Will he be going to Laval?

 

[LaP]

Will he be going to Laval?

I think he can't. I'm not 100% sure about the rule but i think if you sign a NHL contract after the NHL TDL you can't play in the AHL. If you sign after the NHL TDL you must sign an amateur contract to play in the AHL (it doesn't burn a year). It was the same for Hutson he could not play in the AHL last year. Kapanen can because he signed his contract at the beginning of the year and was part of the team for the whole season.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Will he be going to Laval?

No.

He's not eligible contractually.

He wouldn't be sent down if he was. They don't send down guys who are too good for the AHL.

 

[StCaufield]

No.

He's not eligible contractually.

He wouldn't be sent down if he was. They don't send down guys who are too good for the AHL.

I wouldn’t be against it. More experience and gets to know some of the guys that will be with the habs next year. I get it though and there’s the injury risk as well so I’m not mad about it

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Will he be going to Laval?

He can only play in Montreal or at SKA

 

[Habs]

He was probably in shock at how much worse the KHL is than the big show. From all that time and space, no hitting.. to the best guys in the world for a series lol. Sorry bud that Chicago game wasn’t a great warmup to the real NHL

Kid will be a stud

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

Maybe the site will f*** itself to death and go down for 3 days again, that's how I got mine back.


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Is that from Power Rangers ?