Expectations High for Ivan Demidov This Season with the Montreal Canadiens
Can Ivan Demidov average a point per game this season?
Jim Biringer of NHLRumors.com and Full Press NHL was on TSN Radio in Montreal and said, when asked about Ivan Demidov, that he could be a point-per-game player and reach 80 points from the wing.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
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Host: “So now I’ll take a look here at the Montreal Canadiens. Everyone in this entire city itching to get the season started, and obviously a lot of pressure now on Ivan Demidov to really get things going. 62 points last year for Ivan Demidov. What do you think this year looks like for him? If we’re talking about a successful season for Demidov. What do you think that looks like?”
Jim Biringer: “Yeah, I got to say, 80-85 points is a successful season. I think expectations are high for Ivan Demidov, right? Daniel and Simon. I think that’s the way you have to look at it. You expect the players to take the next step. We saw it with Cole Caufield. We saw it with Nick Suzuki. (Juraj) Slafkovsky coming along.
I think everybody expects Ivan Demidov to pop off now. 62 points is great. Now can you get to 80? Can you get to 85? Yeah, 70 is great, but it’s only a small increase. I think everybody wants to see that next jump because they know he’s such a great player for this team.
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He can drive play. He can do everything from the side, from the wing. Again, he needs a second-line center, but he can facilitate, and we’ve seen some of the best players in the world facilitate from the wing. I love what I’m seeing from Ivan Demidov. All these young guys want to be in Montreal. They want to practice together, be together, the chemistry. So, to me, a successful seed is 80- 85 points for him.”
Host: “So, so, you mentioned that second-line center. You think that Demidov, let’s say he played the entire season with (Alex) Newhook and Jake Evans. You still think he could be a point-per-game player?”
Biringer: “Yeah, absolutely. I think. Look, I think Alex Newhook is really underrated. I liked what I saw from him last year. Again, he had some injuries. But when he was there, he was so effective, and they have talent coming, right? And everybody’s gonna wait for Michael Hage to come.
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But Demidov’s so good. He could be a point-per-game player from where he plays on that wing. He can drive play, and I love what I’m seeing from him. He’s only getting better. He’s getting bigger, stronger, and faster. He knows what to do and understands the NHL. He’s going to be just fine, and I do agree; I do feel that he can be a point-per-game player from the position he plays.”
NHLRumors.com Note: The Montreal Canadiens just added Chris Kreider on Saturday before extending Zachary Bolduc on a four-year deal on Sunday. With Kreider’s addition, the second line gets the edge it needs with a physical presence. Not to mention, Demidov has a guy on the line who can put the puck in the net. He is a pass-first player, and Kreider is another scoring threat. So the expectation is that Ivan Demidov will have a big year, given that he signed that new extension.
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