Habs Daily: Demidov Highlights, Realistic Canadiens Projection

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, highlights, and stories you may have missed Thursday.

Montreal Canadiens News

There’s no doubt the future is bright when it comes to the state of the Montreal Canadiens rebuild. They’re turning the corner toward what could be considered the next step in the rebuild, but patience will be in order as the team slowly builds a lineup that will eventually be considered a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. [Canadiens Analysis Canadiens 2024-25 Outlook: A Realistic Approach To The Rebuild]

It’s always fun to take a look at just some of Ivan Demidov’s many, many highlights during his time in the MHL. For sanity’s sake, we should probably resist the urge to overrate him, but I’d be lying if I said his style of play did not remind me of a certain Russian forward who was a dominant presence in the NHL during the 1990s.

#2024NHLDraft Ivan Demidov finished the game today with 5G 1A. #SKA1946 #MHL

Here’s a look at ALL FIVE of his goals. ⬇️

Demidov this season:
➡️ 20G 25A 45 PTS in 23 GP pic.twitter.com/X46COhrrEJ

— Hockey News Hub (@HockeyNewsHub) January 24, 2024

Speaking of Demidov, SDPN’s live reaction to the draft pick is rather telling when we consider they’re diehard Toronto Maple Leafs fans.

SDPN’s live stream reaction to the Habs drafting Ivan Demidov is a fun watch pic.twitter.com/UzS9bhb0fY

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) July 11, 2024

Bogdan Konyushkov was a relatively unknown player in Canada when the Habs picked him in the fourth round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, but the smooth-skating prospect has certainly caught the attention of fans due to the heavy workload he was given at such a young age. His coach, Igor Larionov, was not hesitated when it comes to giving him as much ice time as possible. He even handed the captaincy to the 21-year-old defenceman midway through the season.

21-year-old Bogdan Konyushkov has improved in his 2nd KHL season: 28 PTS (25 in 2022-23), 23:20 TOI (20:44). In the Gagarin Cup Playoffs he recorded impressive 26:34 TOI in 5 games. pic.twitter.com/zZdEbVVvN4

— KHL (@khl_eng) July 11, 2024

National Hockey Now Network

• By no means are the New Jersey Devils known as a scrappy team. Their identity is largely based on speed and skill, and with a new crop of talent coming in over the last few weeks, they’re adding a defensive element to their repertoire as well. However, Devils enforcer Kurtis MacDermid cannot be ignored. Especially when he’s called upon what he does best, and does it to 100% efficiency. [New Jersey Devils]
• Chris MacFarland and the Avalanche held onto Ross Colton this summer, keeping Colorado three-deep down the middle heading into next season. As things currently stand, that’s probably the right move, because beyond those three, there isn’t much in terms of NHL-calibre centre depth in the organization. [Colorado Avalanche]
• Jamie Drysdale didn’t have his best season in 2023-24. This week the 22-year-old defenceman revealed the reason. It turns out he was bothered by a core-muscle injury, also known as a sports hernia, since Game 1 with Anaheim. [Philadelphia Flyers]