Ivan Demidov is in the same category as several Calder winners

Vincent Larue
Ivan Demidov is in the same category as several Calder winners
Credit: Getty Images

Ivan Demidov continues to produce, and as the season progresses, it becomes harder to ignore what the numbers are really saying.

With his playing time having increased over the last few games, the rookie has 35 points. And that's in just 40 games. A solid pace, but especially revealing when compared to recent Calder Trophy winners at the same stage of their rookie season.

After 40 games, Demidov has more points than Connor Bedard, Matty Berniers, Lane Hutson, Moritz Seider, and a certain Kirill Kaprizov.

Demidov finds himself in exactly the same bracket as these players, having gone on to win the Calder and establish themselves as NHL all-stars.

There's nothing exaggerated about this parallel. Rather, it serves to place Demidov's production in a broader context, far removed from the emotion or simple hype surrounding a rookie. After 40 games of equal production, his performance is among the best of the past decade's rookie seasons.

What sets Demidov apart, however, is the way in which these points are obtained. He plays in a well-functioning line-up with Juraj Slafkovsky and Oliver Kapanen, which fosters consistent five-on-five production. That said, he hasn't always been used on the first wave of the powerplay, which puts his point totals in a context where not everything is yet optimized to maximize his stats.

His impact isn't limited to the score sheet. Demidov is often involved in offensive sequences, capable of slowing down play, creating space, and making effective decisions under pressure. His game is thoughtful, patient, and already very mature for a player at this stage of his development.

And the longer the season goes on, the more other teams have to fit him into their game plans.

Of course, being comparable after 40 games doesn't guarantee anything for the future. Every journey is different, and progress is never linear. But this data at least places Demidov in a more serious discussion than one might think.

At this stage, it's not just about a good start to the season.

It's a performance that deserves to be recognized for what it is.


overtime

– According to Frank Seravalli, the biggest trade chip would be Casey Mittelstadt, not Pavel Zacha.

– Justin Faulk is currently his team's leading scorer this season with 11 goals and, if this remains true at the end of the campaign, he could become the third defenseman in history to achieve this feat.

– Avalanche places Mackenzie Blackwood on injured list.

– Blues prospect Adam Jiricek scores in third consecutive CMJ game.

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