Ivan Demidov has taken his game to the next level since he started shooting

Marc-Olivier Cook
Ivan Demidov has taken his game to the next level since he started shooting
Credit: Getty Images

Ivan Demidov is a good hockey player.

We knew that.

But over the past few games, the youngster seems to have moved on to the next level. And there's a specific reason for that too. Do you have any idea what I'm referring to here?

For the past two weeks, the difference has been this: Demidov uses his shot to create things on the ice. He scored a beautiful goal against the Oilers with a perfect shot, and it really seems to have made him understand a few things.

Demidov is a dangerous player on the ice… especially when he uses all his skills at once. His shot is part of his arsenal, and he needs to use it more to produce offensively.

He's beginning to know that…

The Canadiens' youngster has six points (three goals) in his last six games. At the time of writing, he is the NHL's leading rookie scorer, ahead of Beckett Sennecke (28 points) and Matthew Schaefer (24 points).

With 30 points so far this campaign, Demidov is headed for a 20-goal, 67-point season if he can keep up the pace between now and the end of the regular season.

That's a lot of production for a first-year player, we agree. #Calder

Ivan Demidov really seems to be blossoming in the NHL.

He's started controlling games, and it also seems that the game has slowed down for him. He's making better decisions with the puck and he's becoming a real offensive threat to other teams in the league.

That's what we all wanted to see from him. And we're about to see it on a regular basis too.


Overtime

– Uh… sorry?! Sick!

– Nice!

– Coming up.

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