Ivan Demidov the star, Juraj Slafkovsky at 90 points: Alain Chainey’s projections

Ever since Ivan Demidov joined the Canadiens organization as a prospect, let’s just say he’s been making a lot of noise – in spite of himself. And with good reason.

After all, whether you think he’ll one day be the Habs’ most talented player since Alex Radulov, Alex Kovalev or anyone else, we can all agree that the Habs didn’t have talent like him 24 hours before the draft.

His selection by the Habs changed the game.

When he arrives in the NHL (we’re not sure when that will be, although it’s logical to think it’ll be a year from now), he’ll have the potential to become a real star.

He’s got the talent to do it, and Habs management did nothing to take the pressure off him at the last draft – quite the opposite, in fact.

On this subject, Alain Chainey, who has long worked for the Ducks at the draft level, was on Tony Marinaro’s Sick Podcast and was asked what he saw long-term for Demidov.

And he was clear: he can be a star.

How does the Habs young core project according to former head scout Alain Chainey?

He joins @TonyMarinaro to discuss the matter

Full pod
Watch: https://t.co/0FTYgmv59I
Listen: https://t.co/EDnr9hcfGx#GoHabsGo #thesickpodcast pic.twitter.com/2CuyOYaQaQ

– The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) July 10, 2024

Chainey has no advantage in embellishing reality, so we can trust his scouting eye. After all, he doesn’t see Cole Caufield scoring 50 goals, he’s not sure if Nick Suzuki can be a long-term first center on a championship team, and so on.

But speaking of Demidov, he was confident… and the same goes for Juraj Slafkovsky.

In his eyes, Slaf will be capable of reaching the 90-point plateau, and he’ll be more than a top-6 winger: he’ll be a first-line winger. He clearly sees him as a dominant player for the future.

For my part, I still see myself, if Kirby Dach can stay healthy, at the center of Slaf and Demidov one day. But we’ll see in time as we’ll see in time for this one…

Overtime

– Speak of the devil.

We can’t wait to see Demidov in MTL, for me a year in the KHL would be the best thing, it would serve as an adaptation between the MHL and the NHL, he’d arrive ready for the NHL at 20.
If SKA sends him to the MHL, Hughes should bring him to MTL right away.
They have a Superstar, they have to protect him pic.twitter.com/gbjpclFsyP

– David Ettedgui (@EttedguiDavid) July 10, 2024