Ivan Demidov Just Left Russia And Is Heading Straight To Montreal For The Stanley Cup Playoffs
SOPA Images. Getty Images.This entire season, Ivan Demidov has been the best hockey player on the planet not currently playing in the National Hockey League. The fact that 3 teams passed up on him from picks 2-4 in the 2024 NHL Draft was beyond laughable. This is a kid who just put up the most points in a season by a U20 player in KHL history. He had 49 points in 65 games with SKA St. Petersburg, and most of those 49 points paid the electric bill.
And sure, I get it. The Blackhawks, Ducks, and Blue Jackets didn't want to run the risk of drafting a kid who was going to stay in Russia for a few more years. But this wasn't even the same case as the Michkov draft. Demidov's contract was set to expire at the end of May this year, so it's not like he had more years left with SKA anyway.
So now the Habs look like they're in a spot where they are about to close out this push for the 2nd wild card spot in the East, and they are bringing in some extra artillery for the playoffs.
As easy as it is to hate the Habs, you also can't deny that there's no better atmosphere in the world for playoff hockey than the Bell Centre. If the regular season ended today, you'd have the Habs going up against the Capitals in the 1st round of the playoffs. Just imagine how insane the Bell Centre is going to be for Ovechkin vs Demidov. The Caps have been a monster so far this season, but there's always a chance of a little letdown now that the Gr8 Chase is over. Montreal has a dog shit goal differential this year but that can change real quick once Demidov steps off that plane.
Fuck. The rebuild is over in Montreal. They have their core now. This team is going to be a problem.
P.S. -- I'll never forgive the Flyers for winning a bunch of meaningless games last season to bump themselves out of a chance at a top 5 pick in the 2024 Draft. I still have plenty of hope for Jett Luchanko, but holy shit would it have been something to have Michkov and Demidov for the next 15 years.