Ivan Demidov enters Tuesday one point shy of KHL U-20 record

If you can't keep your attention away from what is happening with KHL rookie phenom Ivan Demidov, then you are like most Montreal Canadiens fans.

While we are mostly limited to highlights on X (formerly Twitter) of Demidov, it has given everybody in the Canadiens' circle plenty to be excited for. Demidov, on Saturday night against Dynamo Moscow, scored two assists, bringing him to a total of 42 points in 50 games, including his setup on the overtime winner. The Canadiens 2024 fifth-overall selection sits in a tie with Kirill Kaprizov for the most points by a U-20 player.

Back in 2016-17, Kaprizov, who was 20 years old set the current record, scoring 42 points through 49 KHL games. Safe to say that Demidov is in elite company with his 42 points, and he has plenty of open road to pad his record. SKA St. Petersburg has 28 games remaining on the schedule after their duel with AK Bars today.

Kaprizov was a year older than Demidov, which made the achievement even more impressive. After that 42-point season, Kaprizov went on quite the development path in the KHL. Then, during the 2020-2021 season, 24-year-old Kaprizov made his NHL debut - finishing the year with 51 points in 55 games; including the most goals (27) by a rookie, and most points - earning him the Calder Trophy.

I think that projecting Demidov to do what Kaprizov is doing is a little bit of a high ceiling to reach. But Demidov is scoring right there with Kaprizov's season, and at 19, he is only improving each day. There is plenty to be excited about when it comes to Demidov, and I believe he will be a seismic boost for the Habs next year.

The Canadiens' second line is struggling hard, and a shakeup is needed severely. Now, this isn't going to happen this season, but the complexion of the Habs top six next season will be dramatically different. If you look at what he is doing, there is no doubt about how he will fare with better, more talented teammates, who will catch him with great passes and put his playmaking skills to good use.

Montreal needs a special player, maybe two, and there is no question that Demidov is exactly that. Demidov just has so many strong details in his offensive game, that if you try to take away the pass, he will dangle the defence and fool the goaltender. I think that teams are going to hate defending against him, Lane Hutson and say, Nick Suzuki - it is going to be difficult for the opposition to try and limit.

Now, for his game today. It wasn't one of his best performances, the team is down 7-2 after two periods, and Demidov has been on the ice for four of those goals. To put it lightly, his team is getting mandhandled.

The good news, at least personally for Demidov is that he got an assist on SKA's third goal of the game. With the assist, Demidov has 43 points through just short of 51 games. He is the official highest-scoring U-20 player in KHL history, surpassing Kaprizov.

Jacob Fowler, we are not worthy

I'm not sure that there is much more that the Habs' hopeful starting goaltender of the future has to do to cement himself as the top goaltending prospect in the spot. Jacob Fowler has already doubled his shutout numbers (three) to six this season, through just 23 games. But it's the way that he stays calm and composed, all while frustrating the opposition that impresses most.

Fowler just knows how to stop pucks, and he is never truly down and out, utilizing great lateral movement and athleticism to keep the puck out of his net. His words during pre-draft meetings and the way he has played in the NCAA has backed up his reasoning for such high confidence. According to Grant McCagg, the most single-season shutouts by a goaltender since 2000 was 11, set by Yaniv Perets, and Fowler could potentially best the record by the end of the season.

Boston College is a fantastic team, loaded with some very talented top NHL prospects. But Fowler is a brilliant goaltender, which has been a tremendous boost for the Eagles. I think that the idea that Fowler's statistics are padded by a great team couldn't be more opposite from the truth with this guy.

Fowler is impressive, and I can't imagine a bigger boost to the Canadiens than a guy who has elite NHL starting goaltender potential.