Pre-Draft Nerves Improve Odds Demidov Available To Canadiens

The 2024 NHL Entry Draft is a little more than two weeks away, and seeing as the Montreal Canadiens own two picks in the first round, there’s a growing sense of anticipation among fans.

The buzz surrounding the fifth overall pick is particularly noticeable, as this draft is yet to establish a consensus order following the No.1 overall pick, Macklin Celebrini.

Habs fans have made it quite clear, they want the team to draft a forward to bolster the prospect pool with a game-changing player who possesses elite offensive potential.

In a recent poll, over 97.1 of the votes cast were in favour of the team drafting a forward, with three players garnering the bulk of the attention. Tij Iginla received strong support despite not being projected as a guaranteed top 10 pick, as evidenced by his 17.2 percent share of the votes. Power forward Cayden Lindstrom received the second-most votes, with 29.9 percent of Canadiens fans suggesting he’d be an ideal draft pick.

However, the player Canadiens fans desire most when it comes to the fifth overall pick at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft overshadowed all options, as Russian forward Ivan Demidov led the charge with 39.2 percent of the votes.

MUST READ: Habs Fans Vote – Most Wanted 2024 NHL Draft Target

Demidov is considered the second-most talented player in the draft, which means the odds that he’ll slide to fifth aren’t exactly great, but as we saw last year when Matvei Michkov, considered second-most talented player in the draft, fell to seventh overall, it’s impossible to anticipate how certain teams will weigh risk factors.

According to Cam Robinson, while many teams readily admit he’s incredibly talented, few were willing to commit to drafting him with a top five pick.

Ivan Demidov talk:

I’ve spoken to a nearly dozen teams about the Russian winger. To a person, everyone acknowledges he has some of the highest potential in the class.

But no single team indicated they would feel secure in taking him with a top 2, 3 or even top-5 pick.

He’s a…

— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) June 10, 2024

This could all be smoke and mirrors, but considering the Canadiens have openly admitted they’re intent on drafting a forward, you’d be hard-pressed to argue this is not a fantastic situation should the stars align to make Demidov available at fifth overall.

As Jeff Gorton explained last summer before the Canadiens drafted defenceman David Reinbacher, the opportunities to acquire elite offensive talent are few and far between in the NHL.

Landing Ivan Demidov would be an opportunity the Canadiens simply could not ignore.

A player with his elite skill set would certainly go a long way in ensuring the team’s prospect pool would no longer be considered a very long list of players with limited offensive potential.