Now that we’ve absorbed his debut, let’s have a little fun, and read what Roman Rotenberg had to say about Demidov

The Hype was warranted, he exceeded expectations

SKA St Petersburg head coach Roman Rotenberg sees flashes of a young Evgeni Malkin in his former player Ivan Demidov.

Eric Engels, the Montreal Canadiens beat writer for Sportsnet, believes that Demidov will surprise many fans in arriving and making an impact almost immediately. Alongside Alex Newhook and Patrik Laine, Demidov’s creativity should tremendously improve the second line’s production at five-on-five.

Expecting the kid to come in and be the saviour would be insanity, but it’s almost as though he has no idea how good he is. He is loaded with skills, talent, creativity, tenacity - you name it - he has got it.

The traits that you want in a lineup addition at this time of the year - are exactly what Demidov employs. He knows pressure, he was SKA’s best player in his draft plus one.

And if you look at his draft year, he chewed up the competition in the MHL in 2023-24 (23-37-60) in 30 games. Demidov won league MVP, and led the playoffs in points (28) and goals (11), en route to an MHL Championship.

He is a big game player, and his KHL rookie season statistics, through all the hardships this season, prove that if nothing else. However, he is Demidov, and the things he does with and without the puck are impressive.

But his defensive game, vision and efforts are what will endear him to Martin St Louis, directly after he scores a highlight reel goal, or makes a pretty play cross-ice to Laine.

Lane Hutson will also be involved, so I expect that those Malkin-like flashes, that Rotenberg alluded to, will be on display in short order on NHL ice by Demidov.

Ivan Demidov is ridiculous

If you didn’t watch his NHL debut, here are the game highlights. Get ready to have your mind blown, and be chill-induced by No. 93. This guy is absolutely ridiculous, and the Kirill Kaprizov stuff was on full display.

Demidov just made this team so much better, and with better linemates - he will make them better, he is a superstar - watch the kid absolutely go off, and his linemates improve dramatically.

He could have had a hat trick tonight, if he played five on five with Patrik Laine and Oliver Kapanen - I will go to the grave with my opinion of No. 91.

Kapanen can centre the line, and get the puck to his linemates, then skate and be the low forward to defend counter plays, and support the defence. He is smart, quick and I think has the highest potential of any centre on the team not named Nick Suzuki - put Kappy with Laine and Demoidov, and watch what they do.

C’mon Marty, loosen the shackles let the team have fun, and make some magic - they look tight and afraid to lose right now. Which is precisely what has happened to them lately.

Let Hutson play with Demidov on the right half-wall on the power play, it is the move that this power play unit needs. Move Slafkovsky to pp two and let him dominate with his size.

The top unit will be well-balanced, and the second one can be focused on after that.

Power play two, for my money, would look best with a five-man unit consisting of - Arber Xhekaj net-front, Slafkovsky on the right half-wall, and Oliver Kapanen on the left, with Alex Newhook in the bumper and Mike Matheson at the top playing QB.

I would prefer Kaiden Guhle in Matheson’s spot, but for now, I like the option of rotating Xhekaj to the blueline.

His slapshot is a lethal weapon, and it’s a crime that Martin St. Louis keeps his machine gun (No. 72 - The Sheriff) locked away in his safe (Respective NHL arena pressbox) game after game.

I love David Savard, but Jayden Struble is already better than No. 58, and it’s time to have a conversation about Matheson and Savard being on the third pair together.

It’s problematic when they are the two who get hemmed in their zone most with the puck. I get the veteran take, but I’m not buying it.

Guhle, Alexandre Carrier, Jayden Struble and Lane Hutson are better than both - No. 8 & No. 58. David Reinbacher if healthy is an option, Adam Engstrom is also.

Then there are guys like Bogdan Konyushkov, Owen Protz, Logan Mailloux and - you get the idea. If this is the case, lets stop hanging onto players nearing their expiry date.

In a perfect world, the Canadiens would move on from the two Quebec natives. And I think the Habs could bring in one more outside player, and be set for next season.

Addition by subtraction will play a seismic role on the deployment of the Habs six defenders. Montreal gets rid of No. 58 & No. 8, and brings in a top-four right-shot defender I like their odds.

Two guys that I like, and feel Kent Hughes should target in a trade are:

1. Mitch Marner - throw a 7-year, $84 million deal at Marner, and move Demidov to centre, then have a line of Demidov, Marner and Patrik Laine.

I rest my case.

2. Sean Monahan/Matt Duchene - Both guys are older than 29, but they could provide immense value to the Habs youthful centre corps, especially with Michael Hage on the way, this could be a cheaper, better value sort of move.

Either make a nice offer, or make a trade package and propose it to Columbus or Dallas in June, and see what comes of it.

I have loved Duchene's game, and growth since he entered the league with the Avalanche in 2013-13 (71 GP - 23-47-70) and was a staple up the middle for Colorado. Duchene is now 34, so he could be a nice guy to add, and then sign for 3-4 years, in $12-$14 million range.

Monahan was in Montreal, and it stung when he was traded, though he was the gift that keeps on giving. He fits with the Habs, and his good buddy the late Johnny Gaudreau - and adds a connection between Monahan and Cole Caufield, who was tight with Gaudreau.

No. 23 for the Blue Jackets has been massive for the teams success, and development at centre. The 30-year-old has played 52 games for Columbus (19-35-54).