Much has been made about the ice time given to top prospect Ivan Demidov in the KHL. It’s understandable, as Demidov represents the Montreal Canadiens’ best hopes to develop a game-changing forward who can make a positive impact every night.
But regardless of his skill set, making the jump from minor hockey to the professional stage is a difficult challenge, one that usually includes a period of acclimatization. We must also remember Demidov is just 18 years old, which means he has to earn his ice time the old-fashioned way, by making the most of limited chances.
Ivan Demidov Makes His Mark
Through five game in the league, it was quite clear Demidov was playing better than his early-season statistics suggested. A break-out game was just around the corner. On Thursday, the phenom’s hard work paid off as Demidov earned a four-point night in SKA’s 7-4 win over Sochi, pushing his season totals to six points in six games, a rather impressive scoring pace for a rookie.
Ivan Demidov’s Defensive Prowess
In addition to generating two primary assists, Demidov scored his second and third goals of the season. The first came off the rush, with his deceptive release doing much of the work. The second was in an empty net, which could lead to some dismissing the play, but it’s worth remembering coaches don’t put players they distrust on the ice to defend an important lead. There’s a reason the top players in various leagues around the world end up scoring a healthy amount of empty-net goals. The mere fact that he’s being used to defend a lead goes to show he has quickly gained the confidence of his coaching staff.
Of course, his four-point night doesn’t change much in the grand scheme of things. Like his first few games in the league, it is but a drop in the bucket that is his professional career, but given the scrutiny Montreal Canadiens prospects deal with on a daily basis, the strong outing will surely do wonders for his confidence.
