Hage is not going to take over the 1C spot from Suzuki.. he's a classic 2C.. very good 2C..
Demidov is a winger, enough of this Centre talk. We don't need to reinvent Demidov.. why? Bc we dont have a 2C? Screw that.. did Washington ever consider putting Ovechkin at C? No..
Based on the search results, here’s a summary of Ivan Demidov’s preferences and abilities at the center position:
Comfortable playing center: Demidov has mentioned that he prefers playing center over wing, citing that it allows him to be more creative and have a better vision of the game. (Source: “Ivan Demidov prefers center to wing - Dose.ca”)
Played center in pre-season tournament: During the Puchkov pre-season tournament, Demidov played center and made highlight-reel plays, showcasing his ability to create scoring chances and dominate games from the middle of the ice. (Source: “September 2024 – After captaining the Russian U23 team, and scoring five points in the Puchkov pre-season tournament, Ivan Demidov officially earned a spot on Roman Rotenberg’s SKA roster in the KHL.”)
Elite creativity and puck skills: Demidov’s scouting reports highlight his exceptional handling, passing, and shooting abilities, which would be valuable assets at the center position. (Source: “2024 Draft Prospect Profile: Ivan Demidov is another top Russian winger - The Cannon”)
Potential to develop into a two-way center: While Demidov’s defensive play could use improvement, his intelligence, passing ability, and engagement off-puck suggest he has the potential to develop into a well-rounded, two-way center. (Source: “2024 Draft Prospect Profile: Ivan Demidov is another top Russian winger - The Cannon”)
In summary, Ivan Demidov has expressed a preference for playing center, has experience playing the position in pre-season tournaments, and possesses elite creativity and puck skills that would be valuable at the center position. With further development, he may become a well-rounded, two-way center.