Ivan Demidov is a name to keep an eye on for the upcoming NHL draft. The Russian player is an intriguing case, undoubtedly talented and poised to be drafted very early.
Ranked second on Bob McKenzie's esteemed list, the forward is drawing attention. Anthony Martineau of TVA Sports conducted an excellent interview with Ivan Demidov's agent.
Several interesting topics were discussed. According to Dan Milstein, he would have been the first pick in the 2024 draft if he had played in North America.
He also commented on his recent knee injury and confirmed that his client hadn't suffered anything too serious and would be fully recovered in time for the draft.
According to him, he also has the potential to become a great player:
"He's been a pro since childhood. I'll be honest with you: he only thinks about hockey! He constantly studies the evolution of the game and prepares accordingly. I was Pavel Datsyuk's agent and I can tell you that Ivan's preparation and professionalism are really, really impressive.
"I also have Nikita Kucherov as a client. That guy just never takes a break! Nikita is already preparing for the next season and he just got eliminated from the playoffs. Imagine! Ivan has exactly the same mentality as these two guys. And his game also reminds me of theirs." - Dan Milstein
According to the agent, the lively, fast, and agile forward would love to see the Canadiens select him. The Demidov camp has indeed spoken to the Canadiens' management in recent months.
"He would instantly be a fan favorite," the friendly businessman asserts convincingly. "He has the personality to handle the pressure of a market like Montreal. And he understands what playing in a place like that means."
Interesting. A player that the Canadiens can't afford to miss out on, much like Matvei Mitchkov last year.
