Who should the Chicago Blackhawks select 2nd overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft?

[Section88]

Would love to see what Demidov could do in Rockford next year.
Edit - guess he's got another year on his contract. Oh well.

 

[OhCaptainMyCaptain]

The thing is, he still has issues in his game when you watch him in the MHL.

He does a lot of dangling and lapping around the ice which results in nothing happening or turnovers. It's cool that he can do those things, but it's very inneficient and it won't fly in the NHL imo.

He can adapt. And I'm sure he will. But then what are you left with?

He had a tiny sample size against men this year and although he didn't look out of place, he also wasn't doing any of the highlight reel things you see him do in the MHL.

He's also a small player. Strong on his skates, but there's no physical side to his game. And he's not committed to playing defense.

I just think there's a lot of question marks there.

He could be the pick at #2, but it's far from a foregone conclusion. It's not a slam dunk pick imo.

So how are you picking this up but every other place that does prospects isn’t? Not doubting you, but I am always curious about the disconnect.

 

[Caser]

It's a legitimate concern with him.

The skill gap between him and the bottom of the MHL is galaxies apart.

Due to the MHL being divided into the stronger and weaker divisions, Demidov didn't play too much against those bottom MHL teams.

 

[Northernhawk]

How about trading the #2 to Utah for #6 and a young forward like Maccelli?

 

[TLEH]

The thing is, he still has issues in his game when you watch him in the MHL.

He does a lot of dangling and lapping around the ice which results in nothing happening or turnovers. It's cool that he can do those things, but it's very inneficient and it won't fly in the NHL imo.

He can adapt. And I'm sure he will. But then what are you left with?

He had a tiny sample size against men this year and although he didn't look out of place, he also wasn't doing any of the highlight reel things you see him do in the MHL.

He's also a small player. Strong on his skates, but there's no physical side to his game. And he's not committed to playing defense.

I just think there's a lot of question marks there.

He could be the pick at #2, but it's far from a foregone conclusion. It's not a slam dunk pick imo.

Besides the fact that he does play defense, a lot more than the stereotypical "Russian".. my overarching point would be that there are no slam dunk picks at two this year.

How about trading the #2 to Utah for #6 and a young forward like Maccelli?

How about no.

 

[Cowch]

I expected this to be way way closer. Welcome change to see how much we agree atm

 

[OhCaptainMyCaptain]

I expected this to be way way closer. Welcome change to see how much we agree atm

I feel like a lot of people just want a high upside wing with Bedard.

 

[ChicagoHockeyFan]

The thing is, he still has issues in his game when you watch him in the MHL.

He does a lot of dangling and lapping around the ice which results in nothing happening or turnovers. It's cool that he can do those things, but it's very inneficient and it won't fly in the NHL imo.

He can adapt. And I'm sure he will. But then what are you left with?

He had a tiny sample size against men this year and although he didn't look out of place, he also wasn't doing any of the highlight reel things you see him do in the MHL.

He's also a small player. Strong on his skates, but there's no physical side to his game. And he's not committed to playing defense.

I just think there's a lot of question marks there.

He could be the pick at #2, but it's far from a foregone conclusion. It's not a slam dunk pick imo.

Definitely more of a projection than most years at #2, other picks are safer but if you wanna swing for the fences and try and get the best potential player I think it’s Demidov

 

[Northernhawk]

Or how about #2 to Ottawa for #7, #26 a 2025 3rd rounder?

 

[OhCaptainMyCaptain]

Or how about we not trade down at all?

 

[TLEH]

Or how about #2 to Ottawa for #7, #26 a 2025 3rd rounder?

We have picked a million players already, why are we losing out on the 2nd best talent in this draft for a bunch of junk.

 

[Kevin Musto]

So how are you picking this up but every other place that does prospects isn’t? Not doubting you, but I am always curious about the disconnect.

I'm not the only one.

Other outlets have the same concerns I do, they're just weighting it differently and still keeping him at #2 in spite of the issues.

 

[Wally1112pac]

From Wheeler's latest top 32 article.

"Artyom Levshunov was No. 2 on my list for most of this season, but Demidov’s play during the MHL playoffs (which unfortunately ended due to a lower-body injury just prior to SKA winning the championship) crystalized him behind Macklin Celebrini down the stretch. He’s got the most individual puck skill in the class but I’ve also heard good things about his work ethic on and off the ice and he has developed some layers to his game so that he’s not a one-trick pony as a dancing offensive zone player.
Demidov is a skill-first playmaking forward who finished third in the MHL in scoring last year (extremely rare for a player that age in a league typically dominated by 19- and 20-year-olds) and played at a higher point-per-game pace than the two players in front of him alongside his older brother, Semyon. This season, after a strong preseason with SKA, he won a KHL job out of camp but played little and then, after bouncing between levels trying to rediscover his game, injured his knee and missed a month and a half. After returning, he tore up the MHL with one multi-point game after another and five to 10 shots a night, putting together one of the most productive extended stretches of play ever at Russia’s top junior level and making pretty goals look casual.
He’s on the older side as a December 2005, but it sounds like he’s dedicated to getting stronger, he's a true play creator and you want the puck in his hands so he can slip around the ice to make things happen for himself or his linemates. His ability to get off the wall to the middle, either with the puck on his stick into traffic (though I think he falls back on his heel-to-heel skating a little too much), his manipulation one-on-one, his knack for dodging sticks and checks, and his passing through layers to the weak side of coverage are all very unique. And while his skating in straight lines doesn't always look smooth, he's still a fast skater and very shifty side to side. He's got elite handling (though he can get himself into trouble trying to beat two or three guys in a crowd, he also often beats multiple guys in a sequence) and made more one-on-one skill plays this season (including, unabated, in the postseason) than almost any prospect I've scouted for any draft. He’s also a pretty engaged off-puck player who keeps his feet moving, hunts pucks on the forecheck, and can turn a steal into a game-breaking play in an instant. Demidov’s one of the most purely talented prospects to come out of Russia in recent memory (his game also has more of a pro style, competitiveness and roundedness to it than Matvei Michkov's had at the same age) and scouts really like him. He profiles as a point-producing star winger and PP specialist."

 

[Section88]

Yeah you don't trade down here unless its a big overpayment

 

[Salvaged Ship]

They took Roman Kantserov with a second just last year. I doubt they’re concerned.

Its different with the second pick in the draft, big risk if you re not sure. Second round I get it.

I want the kid, just need to be sure there will be no issues with him coming over.

 

[Mrfenn92]

Its different with the second pick in the draft, big risk if you re not sure. Second round I get it.

I want the kid, just need to be sure there will be no issues with him coming over.

Don’t think there is any concern with demidov coming over

 

[TLEH]

Kucherov draft year MHL

Krasnaya Armiya Moskva

MHL

41

27

31

58

81

42

Playoffs

10

5

8

13

16

7

Demidov draft year MHL

SKA-1946 St. Petersburg

MHL

30

23

37

60

20

47

Playoffs

17

11

17

28

37

19

He had 28 points in 17 playoff games. Elite playoff run, I watched a lot of those games. I was/am a big Catton guy, but Demidov's upside is too good to pass up. Everyone in this draft has flaws. Lots of them. So just bet on his talent and hope for the best.

 

[clydesdale line]

The fact that Demidov doesn't need surgery on his knee is huge as well. Sure him not training for 6-8 weeks will suck for him but it isn't a death sentence.

Hawks can still potentially pick a guy like Jiricek with that #20 pick too.

 

[HawksDub89]

I genuinely think you guys are drafting a D.

Montreal fans have been hope trafficking this because they want Demidov. He won’t be there at 5, even if the hawks pass I doubt Anaheim will.

 

[hawksfan50]

No..Lindstrom iscthe correct selection...

Justcwatch playoffs...You will need power and gritand size +sjilk not just skill and get pushed around and off pucks.

Hawks on the other hand may never get to playoff land with $9.5 as 1D....

Still if you are re-building ,easier to fins skilk than a big power C who physically imposes the game.

Lindstrom is just scratching the surface...Demidov 's skill is there now as with Bedard or with McKenna or Hagens in future drafts..but "ceilng" for Lindstrom will be better as he grows even stronger with his size..If he wax just a big liug that is one thing ...

But he is not that..He has sone goodcskilk and a powerful shot..You cannot teach size and if they also have talent as he does then you getca 200ft C who can DICTATE the game and especialky in playoffsxwhen you have got to have that elopement.

If KD talesxa trade down we still can get Lindstrom at #3,4 or 5 ...orvif surprised anf the trade down fails (he isvoff before our trade down pick we Still can get IGINLA who brings more size and power and grit than Demidov and whose shot is better too.

So he'll no...JD should not take Demidov but get us what we Need...Lindstrom or Iginla ..

BTW....nowctgat SJ will draft Celebrinini their 1-2 centerscare Will Smith and Celebrini....has theirvre-build just leap-frogged us?

 

[Mrfenn92]

I genuinely think you guys are drafting a D.

We could

 

[TLEH]

Just watched Bedard have to lug around Foligno for 82 games. The faster we can get an elite player on his wing, the better.

 

[Mrfenn92]

Rw 5’11 181 L

12/10/05

Signed through next year

Ska-1946 (Mhl)
Ska-Saint Petersburg

 

[Mrfenn92]

D 6’2 208 R

10/28/05

Michigan state sophomore

 

[CapitalistInfidel]

I agree.

I don’t get the Demidov love. He’s like a travel team kid playing against house league kids. Talk about taking a risk. On top of that he’s not particularly fast and his predominant skating style is 10 and 2. That’s not going to work in the nhl unless you think he’s as talented as McDavid and Crosby.