Since Ivan Demidov joined the Canadiens organization as a prospect, he’s been generating a lot of buzz – and for good reason.
Whether you believe he’ll one day be the Canadiens’ most talented player since Alex Radulov, Alex Kovalev, or someone else, we can all agree that the Canadiens didn’t have a talent like him a day before the draft.
His selection by the Canadiens changed the game.
When he eventually makes it to the NHL (we don’t know when, but it’s likely within a year), he has the potential to become a true star.
He has the talent, and the Canadiens’ management has done nothing to relieve the pressure on him – in fact, quite the opposite.
On that note, Alain Chainey, a longtime draft-level scout for the Ducks, was on Tony Marinaro’s Sick Podcast and was asked regarding his long-term prospects for Demidov.
And it was clear: he might be a star.
How does the Habs young core project according to former head scout Alain Chainey?
He joins @TonyMarinaro to discuss the matter
Full pod👇
Watch: https://t.co/0FTYgmv59I
Listen: https://t.co/EDnr9hcfGx#GoHabsGo #thesickpodcast pic.twitter.com/2CuyOYaQaQ— The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) July 10, 2024
Chainey isn’t one to sugarcoat things, so we can trust his scouting judgment. After all, he doesn’t see Cole Caufield scoring 50 goals, and he’s unsure if Nick Suzuki can be a long-term first-line center on a championship team, etc.
But when it comes to Demidov, he was confident… and the same applies to Juraj Slafkovsky.
In his view, Slafkovsky might reach the 90-point plateau and be more than just a top-six winger; he’ll be a first-line winger. Chainey clearly sees him as a dominant player going forward.
Personally, I envision a scenario where Kirby Dach, if he can stay healthy, centers a line with Slafkovsky and Demidov. But only time will tell if that happens…
A lot of
– Speaking of the wolf.
We can’t wait to see Demidov in MTL, for me a year in the KHL would be the best thing, it will serve as an adaptation between the MHL and the NHL, he would arrive ready for the NHL at 20 years old
If SKA sends him to the MHL, Hughes must immediately bring him to MTL.
They have a superstar, they have to protect him pic.twitter.com/gbjpclFsyP— David Ettedgui (@EttedguiDavid) July 10, 2024
– No arbitration for him.
Jake Christiansen (Columbus) settles his arbitration case at $775K/$350K, with a $400K guarantee
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 10, 2024
– What’s happening in Victo? [BPM Sports]
– I can’t wait to see him in Laval.
#Habs Headlines: Owen Beck hopes to move from strength to strength
— Eyes On The Prize (@HabsEOTP) July 10, 2024
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Since Ivan Demidov arrived in the Canadiens organization as a prospect, let’s just say that he has been making a lot of noise – despite himself. And rightly so.
After all, whether you think he will one day be the Canadiens’ most talented player since Alex Radulov, Alex Kovalev or anyone else, we can all agree that the Canadiens didn’t have a talent like him 24 hours before the draft.
His selection by the CH changed the game.
When he does make it to the NHL (we don’t really know when, although it’s logical to think it will be within a year), he will have the potential to become a real star.
He has the talent to do it and the Canadiens’ management did nothing to take the pressure off him at the last draft – on the contrary.
On that subject, Alain Chainey, who worked for the Ducks for a long time at the draft level, was on Tony Marinaro’s Sick Podcast and was asked what he saw in the long term for Demidov.
And it was clear: it can be a star.
How does the Habs young core project according to former head scout Alain Chainey?
He joins @TonyMarinaro to discuss the matter
Full pod👇
Watch: https://t.co/0FTYgmv59I
Listen: https://t.co/EDnr9hcfGx#GoHabsGo #thesickpodcast pic.twitter.com/2CuyOYaQaQ— The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) July 10, 2024
Chainey has no interest in embellishing reality, so we can trust his scouting eye. After all, he doesn’t see Cole Caufield scoring 50 goals, he’s not sure if Nick Suzuki can be a long-term first center on a championship team, etc.
But speaking of Demidov, he was confident… and the same is true of Juraj Slafkovsky.
In his eyes, Slaf will be capable of reaching the 90-point plateau and he will be more than a top-six winger: he will be a first-line winger. He clearly sees him as a dominant player going forward.
For my part, I still imagine myself, if Kirby Dach can stay healthy, at the center of Slaf and Demidov one day. But we will see in time as in time for this one…
A lot of
– Speaking of the wolf.
We can’t wait to see Demidov in MTL, for me a year in the KHL would be the best thing, it will serve as an adaptation between the MHL and the NHL, he would arrive ready for the NHL at 20 years old
If SKA sends him to the MHL, Hughes must immediately bring him to MTL.
They have a superstar, they have to protect him pic.twitter.com/gbjpclFsyP— David Ettedgui (@EttedguiDavid) July 10, 2024
– No arbitration for him.
Jake Christiansen (Columbus) settles his arbitration case at $775K/$350K, with a $400K guarantee
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 10, 2024
– What’s happening in Victo? [BPM Sports]
– I can’t wait to see him in Laval.
#Habs Headlines: Owen Beck hopes to move from strength to strength
— Eyes On The Prize (@HabsEOTP) July 10, 2024
