Ivan Demidov (C, L, 5’11”, 181, SKA 1946 St. Petersburg, 12/10/2005)
2024 NHL Draft Grade: A
Ivan Demidov is a 5’11”, 180 pound left shot December 2005 who torched the MHL for 23 goals and 60 points in 30 games during his draft year. He has an inside edge skating base that adds to his elusiveness and agility in tight spaces but it also takes away from his is top sped as he is not speed merchant. With that said, the puck does not slow him down and does not limit his agility. Demidov has a soft first touch and as well as an expanded one-timer area and most importantly he can put his one-timer where he wants it. At every level of play he has been a goal scorer and the drafting NHL organization will be expecting that to continue.
MHL: MHL: Spartak at St. Petersburg SKA-1946, December 12, 2023
No points for Demidov tonight. He battled hard along the wall and forced multiple turnovers. He made sure to get into every battle and dug pucks out with an active stick and physical style of play. He pushed hard and won races to loose pucks and showed a high compete level tonight. After pulling pucks off the wall, he quickly picked his head up and found teammates in the slot with a quick pass. Demidov protects the puck well with opponents on his hip. He keeps his feet moving and holds the puck far away from pressure. He can accelerate to high speeds with a couple of quick crossovers and if given space, he can drive the puck the full length of the ice. He attempts to execute highlight reel dekes whenever the puck is on his stick which can sometimes get him in trouble. He has a tendency to over handle the puck, but he has the skill to pull off elite dangles and does so often. He had a couple of skilled toe drags past defenders and when he kept his feet moving, he was able to cut into space after his deke and was able to get multiple shots on goal. He loves the drag through his legs move on the rush and was able to use it to make hard cuts to the crease. Demidov’s passing was a bit off tonight and he rushed many of his possessions. Not the best offensive game tonight but his compete level and effort shown in battles on both ends of the ice were very impressive. He needs to slow his game down a bit when the puck is on his stick. He was given time on the first powerplay unit and projects as a top 6 forward with power play time on the half wall in the NHL.
MHL: MCSKA at SPSKA, December 9, 2023:
Game Grade: A-
Comments: This was not Ivan’s best performance this season, but he still picked up 2 assists and showed some of the traits that will cause him to be selected very early in the first round of the 2024 Draft. He had great pace in tonight’s game and showed great effort on the forecheck. He jumped into battles and applied tight pressure which forced multiple turnovers. Ivan did not give up easily and continued to press even after passes were completed by opponents. Ivan is fantastic at staying in motion without the puck and has a great knack for slipping into open space at the perfect time to become a quality target for his teammates. He uses this ability to set himself up for one-time opportunities which he was able to pull off many times this game. He has a heavy slap shot and hits the net more often than not. One downside from tonight’s game was his decision making with the puck. He often overhandled it and attempted to execute complicated moves into large crowds which lead to turnovers. He was far too easy to shut down with a quick poke check due to his insistence on attempting highlight reel dekes rather than simplifying his game with a drive wide or quick pass. He was the main target for Krasnaya’s defense and was surrounded every time he was on the ice, but he needs to work on his ability to beat intense pressure and simplify his game. Despite many turnovers, he was still able to execute some pretty moves using his feet. He makes very quick cuts and was able to exploit small changes in defensive coverage to get just about wherever he wanted using his edgework. Another flaw which was exposed tonight was his inside edge heavy skating form. Typically, he is able to slip through entire teams using his edges, but Armiya was able to show that if you apply consistent tight pressure and some contact, it is very easy to knock Ivan off of his feet. He is going to need to work on strengthening his legs and allow himself to utilize other skating forms rather than settling into inside edge C-cuts. His first assist was a secondary that came off of a rebound from his shot from the slot. His second assist was on a nice effort play during a power play in the second period. A rebound for his shot popped out into the slot and Ivan jumped into the play to win the loose puck from the defender and tap it over a teammate in the center lane for a wrist shot finish. Ivan is a very skilled and speedy forward with top 6 potential in the NHL. He has been dominant since returning from injury a few weeks ago and has shown why most covet him as a potential top 3 pick in this year’s draft. Some of his flaws were exposed tonight but he consistently shows high level offensive skill and great effort without the puck which make him worth a high selection, and he will likely have a very successful career in the NHL.
MHL: SPSKA at Moscow Spartak, November 28, 2023:
Game Grade: A
Comments: Since returning from injury, Demidov has been as advertised and is beginning to dominate the MHL once again. He picked up a goal and a primary assist in this game off of two smart plays. Demidov has elite footwork and is able to generate a ton of speed using changes of edge and quick crossovers. He uses his patented heel to heel form to fly around the offensive zone while searching for options. His straight-line speed is very impressive as well, he is able to accelerate to high speeds quickly and push pace in transition. Demidov’s puck handling ability is elite. He was able to pull off multiple through the legs moves into space, fake opponents out with quick stick handles, and work his way out of very tight situations with precise dekes. I have also been very impressed with his ability to blend receptions with dekes and continue moving up ice in one fluid motion. This ability was shown off in the first period when he reached behind him to steal an errant pass, slip the puck through his legs, and quickly attempt to hit a teammate in the slot. This was also a great example of his vision and ability to read the ice quickly. He always has his head up and makes constant scans of each zone to determine where the next play will develop. He sets up a ton of chances around the cage and completes tricky passes through tiny lanes to find teammates cross zone. He takes risks but most pay off. His assist came early in the second period on a rush attempt. He caught a pass very close to the cage and rather than taking a shot from a bad angle he picked his head up and slid the puck through the crease to a wide-open man for an easy tap in. Great vision on display and he is able to find and execute passes as they are developing. Another trait that Ivan showed tonight was his ability to slip into open space to support his teammates without the puck. He is always in motion and makes sure to move into spots where his teammates can find him with a pass. This allowed for extra possession in the offensive zone by giving escape options for his teammates and generated a ton of chances for Ivan around the slot area. Ivan has a heavy wrist shot and is not afraid to shoot the puck. He fires shots often and hits the cage more often than not. He has consistently picked up 3+ shots on goal in every game this season and has reached 7 shots before. He can clearly create chances through his cuts and handling ability. His goal came in the first period on a rebound finish. He cut into space the second he saw the puck jump off of the goalie’s pad and buried it top shelf with an insanely quick release. Ivan is not an elite defender, but he does not slack in his own end of the ice. He shows off good positioning and scans to keep track of cutting opponents. He works hard without the puck and battles hard for possession in all three zones. I love the fact that he does not give up on plays and is not the typical superstar that is afraid to get to dirty areas/gives up after a turnover. Ivan keeps his feet moving and gets physical to win pucks. There are times when Ivan can force bad plays by attempting to beat multiple defenders or pass into traffic, but he generates more chances than anyone at the MHL level. He deserves top 3 consideration in the draft, and I will not be surprised when he gets called early in June. He has high first line potential and should be a star in the NHL after some experience in the KHL.
MHL: SPSKA at MCSKA, November 24, 2023:
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Demidov is back from injury and working hard on bringing his game back to the elite level it was at last season. This was only his third game back and looks to be shaking some of the rust off still. Even when he is not at 100%, he still looks like one of the best players in this entire draft. The base of Demi’s game comes from his elite skating ability. He has great straight-line speed and uses elite edgework to dance around the zone and escape pressure. With the puck on his stick in the OZ, Ivan pivots into a heel-to-heel position and quickly switches edges continuously to propel himself around the top of the zone. From this position he is able to generate a ton of speed, change directions with a quick turn, and work his way towards the net by slipping through tight lanes. His constant foot movements and edge changes make it nearly impossible to knock him off of the puck. He bounces off checks with a quick shift of weight onto the other leg and slides past opponents. When Krasnaya tried to apply pressure on him along the boards, he made dime turns in the blink of an eye and created a ton of separation from his man with hard stops and cuts. His hands are elite, and he times his moves well to avoid incoming pokes and skates. He pulled off some sick dangles through and around players in all situations leaving defenders lost as he shot into space. There were many times in this game where he over-handled the puck and walked himself into traffic, but he had just as many moments where he was able to slip past multiple opponents with ease. When the puck is on his stick, he keeps his head up and has a great mental map of what is occurring around him. The second he turns away from pressure he seems to always know his next move and makes quick passes right on the stick of a cutting teammate. Demidov’s play without the puck was just as good in tonight’s game. He has a very high motor and gets involved in just about every battle and race that he can. He is not a physical player but uses his brain, speed, and skill to win pucks. He gets to the puck first and makes quick spins and cuts to avoid opponents. In battles he uses his stick to quickly move opponents sticks and dig pucks out of scrums. His pass receptions are very impressive as well. He is able to blend the reception with moves around defenders and catch passes through tight pressure and congestion. He started moves before the puck hit his stick and was able to effortlessly control and slip past opponents. Demidov was able to pick up an assist on the only SKA goal of the game. He made a well-timed drop pass to Vilchinsky who fired home a wrister. Demidov is going to be one of the first 5 picks off the board and if he can stay healthy, he might be able to push for 1st overall. He needs to work on choosing better times to shoot as he took a number of low percentage shots from deep and into congested lanes. He needs to work on moving the puck a bit quicker rather than over handling it and forcing his way into terrible situations. Demidov is a monster and as long as he can stay healthy for the rest of the season, I think he will show his top tier talent in all areas of the game.
MHL: ATLAN at SPSKA, November 20, 2023:
Game Grade: A
Comments: Ivan Demidov has been out for the last few weeks due to a knee injury but made his presence felt in this game with his first 2 points of the season. Ivan flies up and down the ice and consistently plays at a high pace. He moves using elite edgework where he opens his hips into heel-to-heel skating and propels himself around the ice. He is able to generate an absurd amount of speed in this position and can slip through tight spaces. He is incredibly agile and able to make quick cuts and spins to slip through traffic and escape pressure. His elite hands and well timed dekes make it easy to beat defenders 1v1 and his combination of speed and skill makes it nearly impossible to separate him from the puck. Ivan keeps his head up with the puck and makes constant scans of the ice which he uses to find and hit teammates in stride with well-timed and placed passes. He blends his dekes and passes to slip the puck to teammates in motion. He is a great playmaker and sets up tons of chances around the net with his ability to open up lanes with his hands and takes risks to attempt to find guys in front. His entire game when the puck on his stick is very smooth. He is incredibly talented but sometimes over handles the puck and loses it when attempting complex moves. He loves to make the highlight reel and this mentality can sometimes put him in rough spots where he is unable to complete the move he intended, resulting in a turnover. Ivan shoots the puck often. He was able to get 7 shots on cage in this game and he attempted at least double that throughout the game. His skill and ability to find space allows him to get some quality looks at the goal but he also forced a couple of bad shot choices from distance. He could have completed a pass when his lane was taken away, but he decided to shoot from low percentage areas instead resulting in easy saves/blocks. Demidov is a responsible player without the puck as well. He is very unlikely to ever win a Selke, but he plays a responsible defensive game and is consistently active in the DZ. He gets involved in board battles and is often the first guy to loose pucks. Demidov is no Primadonna and is not afraid to do the dirty work to help his team secure possession for his team. He picked up a secondary assist in the third when he helped transition the puck with a pass up ice. His goal came a few minutes later on a power play. He snuck into space in the slot and buried a feed from behind the net. A great showing of his ability to find space and finish in tight. Demidov is one of the best players in this year’s draft class and will likely go top 3-5 in June. He still needs to shake off a bit of the rust but should start raking in points in the MHL and earn a quick call up to the VHL then KHL.
MHL: SPSKA at Mikha, October 5, 2023:
Game Grade: A
Comments: Demidov is an absolute monster that does just about whatever he wants with the puck every time he steps over the boards. He was sent down to 1946 after playing a couple games in the KHL and VHL. He plays at a much higher level than MHL hockey and proved why he is currently considered a top 3 pick in the upcoming draft. He plays at an incredibly fast pace and uses elite hands and elite edgework to slip through the entire team. With the puck, it looks as if they greased his body up because no matter how much pressure the opposing defense applies, he slips right past them with a quick cut into space.There were multiple times during this game where I watched him weave through all 5 players on the ice before moving the puck or firing a shot on goal. His use of heel to heel skating has impressed me in all of my viewing the last two seasons. He generates so much speed and is able to change the direction he is skating in the blink of an eye, all while protecting the puck with his back towards opponents. He generated a ton of chances on the rush, slipping past defenders with a quick move then making a hard cut towards the middle lane and firing a heavy shot. His playmaking was on display as well. He kept his head up while circling the ice and was able to pull off some tricky passes to teammates to set them up for great opportunities. Without the puck he floats around the zone scanning for quality space to jump into. Once he sees a good opportunity based on open ice and his teammates movements, he cuts hard into space and makes himself a great passing target behind the defense. His forecheck game was solid tonight as well. He applied good pressure a majority of the time and was able to come away with at least 3 great steals where he angled the opponents off and made quick stick lifts to take away possession. Defensively he is not great. Half the time he is in the right spots and has the ability/knowledge to make good defensive plays to shut down opponents but he does not show that very often. Most of the time he floated around the top of the zone looking to cherry pick and cheat for breakaways. AKM forechecked his line hard and for a majority of the second period, SKA was unable to get out of the zone and Demidov got very little OZ time. I need him to show me more effort defensively. There is a lot to love about Demidov and I look forward to doing a deeper dive on individual plays and shifts as the season goes on. I have him at 2 in my draft rankings right now with limited viewings of all players. Even though he wasn’t able to get on the scoresheet tonight, he generated a ton of chances and drove offense for SKA.
KHL: SKA at Lada, September 4, 2023:
Game Grade: C+
Comments: Demidov is a highly skilled slightly below average sized left shot right wing with quick strides and a bit of an inside edge skating base. He plays the game with his eyes up and his stick is always prepared to one touch a pass or to fire a one-timer towards the net. In this game he showed that he is not a burner but he has good straight line speed and he showed above average puck anticipation as he looked very quick in 5′ to 10′ races to loose pucks or open ice. Tonight he played 12:20 of even strength hockey and he did not participate in either special teams unit. He finished the game even with 0 points, 2 ‘grade A’ scoring opportunities that missed the net entirely and he had 2 additional shots that were blocked. Interestingly for a skilled player who processes the game quickly he was on the receiving end of 4 hard body checks. Standing at 5’11 and weighing in at under 170lbs this is something to keep track of as we head into his draft year. Over the course of the game he had 3 giveaways and 6 takeaways so we liked that competitiveness and puck retrieval skills, but he also only 5 of his 12 puck battles and to this point has won 42% of his 50/50 puck battles. Again he is a highly skilled forward who at this point is thought to be a top 5 selection so he will be scrutinized very closely, but we feel this was a very average outing for him.