NHL Draft Profile- Ivan Demidov

The 2024 NHL Draft will be here before you know it, and Draft 412 will preview some of the prospects who will be probable first round picks. Draft 412 will review the strengths and weaknesses of each prospect, and where they should land in the NHL Draft.

Name- Ivan Demidov

Pos- RW

Team- SKA-1946 Russia (MHL)

HT/WT- 6’1” 181 lbs

Born- 12/10/2005

Home – Sergiyev Posad, Russia

Ivan Demidov was born in Sergiyev Posad, Russia. In the Russian Junior League (MHL), Demidov scored over 1.4 points per game, leading the league in scoring. Demidov won a gold medal with Team Russia at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, scoring five points in five games. He made his professional debut shortly after with SKA Saint Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League at age 16.

Demidov, while playing for the SKA-1946 team in the MHL this past season, put up huge numbers, scoring two points per game, finishing with 23 goals and 37 assists in only 30 games.

Ivan Demidov could easily have the best hands in this draft class. He has the ability to beat defenders one on one with his stick handling and quick change of direction. He is extremely creative and uses different speeds to keep defenseman guessing, he can slow down, stutter step or explode to beat them.

Demidov is very deceptive in the way he uses his shot. He has a quick release and will let a wrist shot go while it looks like he is going to pass to his defensemen. Without the puck, he always keeps his feet moving and will engage in forechecking and has game breaking speed and skills to change the game in an instant.

Demidov has excellent hockey IQ and once the puck is settled in the offensive zone, he knows where the puck should go. He is a smooth skater who has excellent burst and gets to his max speed quickly.

Strengths

Creativity
Hockey IQ
Stick Handling
One-on-One Battles
Quick Release

Ivan Demidov is an electric player who sometimes will try to do too much and needs to improve his defensive awareness. He can be caught floating in no-mans land and and at times he will sell out for a big play...i.e. leading to a breakaway opportunity. Like many young prospects, Demidov needs to add strength and muscle to his frame to withstand the day in and day out play of the NHL.

Weaknesses

Strength
Defensive Zone
Unnecessary Risks

While watching tape on Ivan Demidov it is hard to not see ex-NHL player Alexei Kovalev. Kovalev was a left handed shooting right winger who was very creative in the way he played the game. As he got bigger his shot got stronger and more accurate. Demidov has the potential to take over games like Kovalev did. Demidov will need to add weight and strength to play at Kovalev's elite level.

Ivan Demidov has taken claim as the No. 2 prospect in the draft behind Celebrini. Matvei Michkov fell to No. 7 last year because of contract problems, but Demidov's agent is arranging a live on-ice viewing of him with NHL teams in Florida just before the draft, which will also afford them the chance to interview him. That being said, Demidov should be the No. 2 pick of the draft and projects as a top-line right winger in the NHL.

Draft Nation Draft Projection- Top 5 pick