Hockey

Here’s the problem with sending Ivan Demidov with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield
Félix Forget
Here’s the problem with sending Ivan Demidov with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield
Credit: Getty Images

I don't think I'm wrong in saying that just about every hockey fan in Quebec is looking forward to seeing Ivan Demidov this season. There's a buzz around the kid that we've rarely seen in town… and seeing him on the ice non-stop since the start of the summer only accentuates that even more.Even today, he spent several hours on the ice in Brossard.

All this means that expectations for Demidov are pretty high. We already see him having a big year and winning the Calder… and some even see him knocking Juraj Slafkovský off the top line.Alexandre Lanctôt raised the possibility on BPM Sports.

Basically, his idea is an interesting one. After all, if Demidov is as good as he's supposed to be, playing him with the club's best offensive players makes sense, but to me, there's a problem with this idea: it's not the best way to optimize the Habs' top-6. Let me explain:Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, as talented as they are, need a big man with them. It's not for nothing that they've taken it to another level with Slaf on their line: he's the perfect piece to complete the trio. Offensively speaking, it's true that Demidov is likely to be superior to Slaf. But in reality, a first line isn't just about putting your top three scorers on the line: you need all three guys to be effective together.If Demidov is to squeeze someone out of the first line, I have a feeling it would be more Caufield.Whatisclear, however, is that the Habs are starting to have an abundance of young players capable of playing on the first line. And inany case, a world in which all four of these guys are together on the ice is likely to exist, whether the club is playing with six skaters or on the powerplay.

[Overtime

]- Good guys, hehe

– Interesting.

– Monster deal in the NFL.

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