Ivan Demidov Selection Draws Explosive Social Media Reactions

The Montreal Canadiens demoralized fans last season when they skipped over Matvei Michkov with the fifth-overall draft selection. Everyone was on edge for the 2024 NHL Draft, as the Canadiens looked poised to have another opportunity to take an elite Russian winger. Ivan Demidov fell to the Canadiens at pick five, and this time they didn't pass on a chance at taking the next great Russian scoring machine.

As you can expect, the Canadiens fans went wild over the pick, as a year of pent-up emotion over the Matvei Michkov snub was let out in celebration. Will Ivan Demidov come to North America and prove everyone right who wanted the Habs to draft him? The chances are looking good once his KHL contract ends, as Demidov was also excited.

Social media wouldn't be the entertainment it is without some comedy mixed in with the posts, as @HabsOnReddit used with the legendary Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal meme.

Sportsnet didn't help in quelling the excitement, as they labeled the Habs as huge winners for their draft selections and Demidov as the second-best drafted player. Todd Matthews also believes the Montreal Canadiens were the big winners in the first round.

The Hockey News' Matt Larkin also showed Demidov's excitement, and compared him to Habs legend Guy Lafleur.

How's this for a potential PP1 combination in Montreal? Lane Hutson will need a year or two of development for the pro game, which will match up perfectly with Demidov's debut in North America. Hutson and Demidov better get accustomed to each other, as they could be starring together with the Canadiens for a long time.