Canadiens' Ivan Demidov Scouting Report - McCagg's Scouting Report #1

Ivan Demidov picked up two goals and an assist yesterday in a 6-3 winger for SKA versus CSKA in KHL action.
Both goals were of the highlight reel variety but as you will see in this video, Demidov had several other plays that displayed his game-breaking abilities.
Demidov had recently gone through a 12-game stretch where he had picked up just one point, and little wonder considering his usage. Demidov averaged 8:57 with fourth-liners and 10 seconds per game on the power play.
In his past five games since Montreal management visited St. Petersburg, Demidov has averaged 15:40 in ice time, including more than 18 minutes in each of his last two games. He is also now in the first power-play unit, and the increased opportunity has paid off as Demidov is riding a five-game goal streak. He has six goals and three assists in those games and now sits tied for 30th in KHL scoring.
Even more impressively, Demidov leads the KHL in points per 60 (3.94) and is third overall in plus/minus at +21. Considering that he has averaged fewer than 12 minutes per game, that is a remarkable achievement.
Demidov opened the scoring in the first period with a goal that was mind-boggling. It went viral on social media as it was a skill display rarely seen by ANY hockey player. His edge work, puck skills, and finishing ability were on full display, and it was a blatant reminder that he is the most skilled player outside of the NHL.
He also notched the second goal of the game with a baseball-type swing that demonstrated his superior eye-hand coordination and awareness. He waited until the puck was below the crossbar before batting it into the net.
The most underrated part of his game, however, is his sound defensive play. Demidov rarely takes a shift off and has a high-revving motor. He forechecks and backchecks with authority and often has the puck on his stick due to his elite anticipatory skills and competitiveness. In 86 games over the past two seasons in two different leagues, he is +87 in 86 games. He easily led the KHL in plus/minus per game last season and has a wide lead in plus/minus per 60 in the KHL this season as a rookie, as he is +2.85 for every 60 minutes of action.
All of these statistics are unprecedented for a KHL rookie. He is accomplishing things no other Russian teenager has ever done at this level of hockey, and the Montreal Canadiens have a future NHL superstar in their stable who will help them win a ton of hockey games in the future.
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[@jrb88]

Could watch his highlights all day. Can't wait to see him with the habs.

[@habitant71]

The most amazing thing about his game is is processing speed, just the ability to see everything that is going on around him and figuring out where it works best, 90% of the time. His stick has the puck on it like a string, an absolute magnet, and a level of hypnotism that is ridiculously impactful with other players in how they puck watch. He's shifty enough to rarely get caught, and he seems to be better at it. He always has 3 options in his mind in the offensive zone. I know Celebrini is a pretty good, pretty special player, but the ceiling for Demidov I think is going to be higher, thus, we will revisit this draft in 5 years with very different rankings. The reality is the 3 teams that selected before Montreal made a massive mistake, he will go down as the steal of the draft, and not only that, barring injuries, I think his numbers will be the best out of this draft for his career.

[@kevsthabest]

Heineman watched that 2nd goal and thought "I can do that too!"

[@lauig]

I kinda expected some sort of voice over commentary but i like it just as much, loved it that you also kept the accolade in the locker room. His skills are amazing, the smile is infectious too ahah. (If I may, I think there's a little typo at the plus-minus part with a "KHL" that sneaked in instead of "MHL", it does not bother with understanding as the following part of the sentence makes it clear anyway.)

[@brandonmorris8334]

Awesome 👌, hockey rules baby

[@timclark3914]

I wanna know if Demidov have the require abilities to be a good Center?

[@lauig]

Do you know many centers who wouldn't wish they had his abilities ?

[@habitant71]

He's played center so little in his career, I don't see the need. There's this winger that took Montreal apart during the 2021 playoffs that has won a scoring title, and is currently tied for 4th in the NHL. Why the need to make him into a center?? They tried to do that with Drouin and made a mess. I don't get the need. Dach is going to be fine, he missed a full season, I said 40 games before we see his game come around, and he started doing it sooner. Suzuki is smart enough to outplay any top centers in the league when he goes up against them. Kapanen is a top talent and will start in the 3rd slot in his career next year; Dvorak and Evans may be gone. Evans could stay, but he will get more term going elsewhere and when you're career isn't that long, I don't blame him. Beck is learning to be a pro. Hage is about 4 years away from making his debut in Montreal. There is no need for Demidov to be a center at all. I wish people like you would let this die once and for all, he will be a winger, that's where he should play because of how he thinks and plays the game right now.

[@jerryrick4685]

Their plan when they drafted him was to play him at center. They cited how he got 11 points in 5 games at center for some big tournament

[@habitant71]

@@jerryrick4685 No it wasn't. Trust me, from the horses mouth, that was not the plan. Wow, show me where

[@lauig]

@@habitant71 your answers sound a bit aggressive, might not be what you wanted to convey but that's the effect and there's no need for that, hope you understand. My take on this is it won't matter much if he's tested at center on certain games, even for what wmay seem as a bit too long of a stretch, especially at his start when the team isn't 100% focused on playoffs yet, let alone trying to go deep. Because, when you see him play with a very good center like Kuznetsov, or when he's taking the role, he's so mobile, agile & skilled he works his best with a teammate he can swap positions with at any moment during their shift which helps further disrupt the defense. And wether it's Hage 2 seasons from now, Suzuki, or Dach (who's now finally getting almost back to his former best, on a path to further improve) we have those kind of guys he can mesh with, adapt & perform. I do also think in the end he'll be a top line winger, but if they play him at Center for a time it won't do the same harm as the good exemple you listed which still calls for cautiousness, off course, because the team around him will be very different and he himself is most likely the most skilled & complete player to come out of Russia since Datsyuk.

[@PhilippeGuay-se2ri]

Where is the scouting report

[@recruteshockey9700]

Does your computer have scrolling capability?

[@ildarm]

@@recruteshockey9700 its youtube, not a blog to read. chill out, grant.

[@timclark3914]

check the description

[@habitant71]

@@recruteshockey9700 I have been scouting the game for a long time and this "boys" don't get it.

[@habitant71]

@@ildarm You're pathetic. Don't get the game besides being a fan

[@padraigadhastair4783]

Holy cow Batman, he's 18 years old.

[@habcast3978]

He turned 19 in December.

[@padraigadhastair4783]

@@habcast3978 I stand corrected. Cheers.

[@rgood1204]

0.8723404255319149 is the benchmark I am expecting. The plus minus stat is interesting. Some players on bad teams have negative plus minus ratings, but are they really that bad when compared to their teammates? Other players on good teams have positive plus minus ratings. Numbers can be used to hype (certain players) or denigrate (other players). It just depends on if the person doing the statistical analysis has an affinity for one player and/or a clear disdain for another.

[@contidiMozzarella]

not because he wear #91 but he remind me Sergey Fedorov

[@Korrupto777]

Hope ill live ,, till he plays with the Habs..

[@rgood1204]

Quote "As we all know...the only stat that matters is plus minus."

[@cygnusx-1862]

Yes the Blackhawks blew it not picking this guy. They have the worst forwards in the NHL and have a chance at what everybody knew was a future superstar and they pick yet another defenseman... I'm from the Chicago area but I'm getting tired of the Blackhawks bum moves. Fire Kyle Davidson!!!!!

[@johnamiico]

Couldn’t agree more. Idk why the fuck we took Levshunov when we could have had the next Kucherov to play with Bedard. But pump the brakes on Kyle Davidson- other than this pick, I think he’s done a fantastic job and he’s playing the loooong game which sucks for the fans but ultimately will probably work out better than rushing the revuild

[@vondoktor]

Where's the report? Clickbait...

[@Thrawn.]

Shaddap ya bastiche!

[@sandyanthony9434]

Doing this against hasbeens and never willbes. You guys already made mistake with Slav and now you're doing it again.

[@recruteshockey9700]

For sure. The kid can barely skate. Thanks for your superb insight.

[@snoodge27]

FFS he has to start somewhere loll He is a freaking kid playing against men with limited ice time and still manage to do very well. If its that easy, why arent you playing in the KHL??

[@snoodge27]

@@recruteshockey9700 That's probably why he was placed second overall draft by Elite Prospects and Sportsnet, and top 5 pretty much everywhere else... because he was soooo bad lol And clearly this year he shows how he sucks at hockey right? stfu lol

[@finalguildis]

Are you stupid? He's playing against men.

[@finalguildis]

And slaf a mistake? What you rather a small player in cooley? Bigger players take longer to develop. Demidov is racking up pts in a league tougher than any other junior league its abit better than AHL. He just turned 19