Evgeny Kuznetsov impressed by Canadiens top prospect Ivan Demidov

Ivan Demidov, the Montreal Canadiens future NHL superstar-hopeful, has again drawn praise from former Washington Capitals centre Evgeny Kuznetsov.

In an interview with RG Media, journalist Daria Tuboltseva got a fantastic quote from the former NHL centre. Among many great quotes, his compliment about Demidov's ability to create stood out. Demidov has the ability, vision, patience and intelligence to execute plays out of nowhere on the flip of a dime.

I'll refrain from using the word in the Tweet, but it is a true testament when a veteran, with immense experience at the NHL and KHL levels extends such a compliment. Demidov, who is 19 years old, and won't turn 20 until December 10, has been stuck at 19 goals, one shy of tying the U-19 goal record (20, set by 19-year-old Kirill Kaprizov in 2016-17) - though Nikita Artamonov (19 years old, currently has 21 goals).

Given that Demidov's time with SKA St. Petersburg will end this season, as soon as his squad's playoff run ends, he has just five regular season games remaining. Demidov can score goals, either with displays of his elite stickhandling, quick hands, shooting from a standstill, or one-touch shots from his off wing. But he has been stuck on 19 goals for a while, and would need to score three goals over his next five games to best Artamonov's bid for the U-19 goal scoring record.

Next on the list is the U-20 single season goals record (25) set by Anatoli Golyshev in 2015-16.

Considering the way the Canadiens are playing, it's difficult to be too frustrated with the up and downs the team has dealt with this season. Over the next handful of season, the Habs lineup is going to have tremendous upgrades. Demidov next year, Jacob Fowler in probably two seasons, and Michael Hage should be in Laval for their 2025-26 playoff run.

It's incredible that Demidov is putting up record numbers, and making longtime former NHL players jaws drop with his skill. I expect that Cole Caufield and/or Patrik Laine are going to love playing with Demidov, he just sees things differently, and executes like very can. You either have it or you don't, and Demidov has it - the superstar potential.

When I think about the offensive identity of the Montreal Canadiens, I think of the captain [Nick Suzuki], Cole [Caufield], and Lane Hutson as the pillars. Juraj Slafkovsky and Mike Matheson are complimentary pieces right now, and Laine's future with the club isn't clear. But the Habs still don't have two of their brightest forward prospects, Demidov, and Michael Hage.

Hage is about another season away from turning pro. I think there are a few wrinkles that need to be ironed out before he turns pro. Bulking up, getting more explosive in stops and starts, and working on his shot will be huge. I also think that showing Hage tape of himself, and maybe asking who he compares himself to, and what the club's vision for him is would be huge.

It's a bright future on the horizon for the Canadiens, and I think the foundation has been set, and the blueprint is working out. A playoff push will put the team into a mentality that one loss could be the end of your season. Each loss stings, and that feeling lingers with players, and lights a fire.

Once the season ends, Kent Hughes focus will shift to free agency and the draft, and the latter should take priority. The best way to acquire talent is through the draft, because it allows the development team to get the best out of the players that the scouts feel have the highest potential.

Montreal has two first round picks, and they have a handful of free agents, along two seconds and three thirds.

Choices with Habs two firsts

If the season ended today, the Montreal Canadiens would enter the draft with the 12th overall selection (Their own), and 19th overall pick (Calgary's from the Sean Monahan trade).

I think at any point of the draft picking the best player available is essential to the construction of a competitive team. The best teams have a bit of everything, but grit, size and defensive skill wears down an opponent.

If I'm looking at the Canadiens roster, I think that adding a left shot centre would be a tremendous choice. I also think drafting another right shot defenseman wouldn't hurt, because they are such a hot commodity for championship-calibre teams, the good ones anyway. I also think that adding a big, rugged power forward, who shoots the puck well, would be a good idea for the top six.

Lets start at 12, and this has to be all guesswork, with no idea what or who the first 11 teams draft, and then the six between pick 12 and 19 either.

Centre

I'm just going to put it out there right away, if Michael Misa is on the board when Kent Hughes takes to the stage, he is 100% my guy. Unless Mathew Schaefer is on the board, which isn't bound to happen.

North American

So, if I'm the Canadiens and I'm drafting the best player available, if I'm basing it on NHL.com's rankings, I would hope that Brady Martin slips to 19th and draft him. This is strategic, because I think the winger options in the 12 range are better than the centre's projected to be available. I think Martin has tremendous talent, and high growth potential, with top-nine centre upside.

He is a righty, which isn't what I would have targeted, but Martin is too talented to pass up.

Martin's statistics: 52 GP: 29-32-61 for the six foot, 174 pound right-shot centre for the Ontario Hockey League's Soo Greyhounds.

International

In the 12 range for international ranked skaters, the level of talent isn't on the same level as their North American counterparts. So, in considering that, I will just go with the centre that I would most like to see the Habs draft, and he is a left-shot too. I'm talking about six foot one, 198 pound left-shot centre Anton Frondell, playing in the Hockey Allsvenskan for Djurgårdens IF.

Frondell is a competitive, stocky build centre, who plays a heavy game, drawing stylistic comparison to fellow countrymen - Peter Forsberg and Gabriel Landeskog. He is a reliable two-way centre, with elite vision, and a creative mind - essential to his playmaking game. Frondell is also a relatively polished shooter, for a 17-year-old, displaying the ability to shoot off either leg, and uses a tremendous one-touch release, driving defences crazy on the catch-and-release.

On the international ranking, he is the number two prospect, getting edged out by teammate Victor Eklund.

Frondell's statistics: 29 GP: 11-14-24 for the six foot one, 198 pound left-shot centre for Djurgårdens IF in the Hockey Allsvenskan.

Defenseman

North American

I think picking a defenseman only makes sense for the Habs if it's a right shot defender, because they are stocked on the left side. Trading away Justin Barron for Alexandre Carrier took a chunk out of the Habs' right defence prospect pool, leaving Logan Mailloux and David Reinbacher, the Habs' top two right defencemen. Bogdan Konyushkov is another option, but I think he is probably a season or two away from considering North America.

My favourite right shot defender in the draft is Radim Mrtka, and while things change, he is ranked as the sixth best North American prospect by NHL.com. He may slip, but I would bet on him potentially being available to the Canadiens, if teams prioritize forwards over defensemen. I think Mrtka has top four potential, and his physical attributes could make him a championship-calibre six foot six, 207 pound beast.

I like the idea of a towering defence, and with Reinbacher, Mailloux and Mrtka in the mix, that is a scary right defence group. 6'3", 6'3" and 6'6", that is some reach, and just flat out not fun to play against. The Shea Weber build is tried and true, and a mobile version (physicality and 108 mph slapshot aside) of that in threes will be nasty.

Mrtka's statistics: 33 GP: 3-30-33 for the six-foot-six, 207-pound right-shot defender, who plays for the Seattle Thunderbirds in the Western Hockey League.

*I wouldn't consider an international defenseman option.

Winger

North American

After the top five, there is an obvious drop in talent, but I don't think that the winger crop should be discredited, as I think there could be a couple of diamonds in the rough. I have written about three particular wingers, who play throughout the CHL (2 WHL & 1 QMJHL), that I would love the Canadiens to take a flier on. My obvious bias towards drafting a winger first is glaring pretty hard.

In the Western League, I am a big fan of Carter Bear, who plays an in-your-face game, relentless on the forecheck and backcheck, because of his intensity. Bear is a great playmaker, and his 40 goals with the Everett Silvertips tell you the goalscoring is no problem. Bear would fit into the Habs culture seamlessly. I hope he has a fast recovery.

Bear's statistics: 56 GP: 40-42-82 for the

The second winger that I like is Lynden Lakovic, a six foot four left-shot sniper, playing for the Moose Jaw Warriors. Lakovic missed time this year, recovering from a lower body injury. The Warriors captain is on pace to play 47 out of a possible 68 games.

Lakovic is a pure sniper, who has tremendous reach to get a ton of power on slapshots and one-touch shots. He also has a great release, that he beats WHL's goalies with from between the circles. His combination of size, skill and skating is intriguing.

I'm hoping the lack of live views causes him to slip to Montreal.

Lakovic statistics: 41 GP: 23-28-51 for the six-foot-four, 190-pound left-shot winger for the Western Hockey League's Moose Jaw Warriors.

Justin Carbonneau is the third guy that I like, though he is least likely to be looked at, given the style of game he plays. I really like Carbonneau, and I think the fact that he is a top rated Quebec born prospect, there is a natural link between the Canadiens and the player. Carbonneau is a right-shot sniper, who's vision and great hands help him create high difficulty plays with a certain ease.

I think that Montreal should focus more on bigger, more gritty forwards that can score, and Carbonneau only checks the scoring box off. But I see a bit of Brayden Point and Seth Jarvis in Carbonneau, who plays with high emotion, and skill. He is currently tearing up the QMJHL, and while it isn't a prolific defensive league, you don't score 46 goals by accident.

With bigger equipment, and more athletic goaltenders, I think scoring 50 goals now, is a little different than a few seasons ago. Technology, and technique is constantly worked on and upgraded to improve the level of goaltenders.

Carbonneau's statistics: 58 GP: 46-41-87 for the six-foot-one, 190-pound right-shot winger for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.

International

Daniil Prokhorov is the only European winger prospect that I know of, who fits perfectly into what the Canadiens are doing. The problem is that I'm not sure if drafting him would give the Habs a top-nine forward down the line. That's tough to use a first round pick on a guy who doesn't develop into a top-nine forward.

He is a hound in front of, and around the opposing net, because he ss so tall, he is a great screen option, who can create plenty of deflections and second chances. Prokhorov also has tremendous strength, engaging with whoever wants to battle for the puck along the boards. He leans heavy on his stick, sort of like Pavel Datsyuk did, and more recently Valeri Nichuskin.

I think missing on Brady Tkachuk still stings the Canadiens, and adding a guy who has similar size, loves to engage in puck battles and has a great shot would be great for the Canadiens. Prokhorov looks like he could sneak up draft boards, but if not with their 19th pick, the Canadiens could potentially get him with an early second.

Prokhorov's statistics: 39 GP: 18-7-25 for the six-foot-six, 209-pound left-shot right-winger for the MHL's MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg.