Martin St-Louis Hints at Breakout Opportunity for Canadiens' Young Talent Ivan Demidov
According to journalist Marco D'Amico, Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St-Louis does not hide his enthusiasm when talking about Ivan Demidov.
The young Russian forward, selected 5th overall in the 2024 draft, is already seen as a key piece of the Tricolore's future, and St-Louis would be ready to give him real opportunities to make an impact right from the start.
In a market like Montreal, where every prospect is closely scrutinized, the expectations surrounding Demidov are considerable. However, according to St-Louis, he is not just another promising youngster, but a player who could quickly stand out in the NHL.
"He had those ups and downs [last season], but I felt like we started to notice him figure things out throughout that five games in the playoffs in terms of how much time he had or he didn't have," general manager Kent Hughes said. "And then we've seen him through the summer. His work ethic is unparalleled. He's been in Montreal, skating, working out and skating again, twice a day, five days a week. I'm trying to get him off the ice." - Martin St-Louis
The message is clear: Demidov will not be confined to a marginal role. Unlike many rookies who must wait long months before earning quality ice time, St-Louis intends to give him solid chances to develop in key offensive situations. The idea is to capitalize on his talent rather than restrict him to a strict defensive role.
Ivan Demidov Will Have Every Chance to Produce with the Montreal Canadiens
This confidence is reminiscent of the philosophy applied with Juraj Slafkovsky, who gradually gained more responsibilities until establishing himself as a central element of Montreal's top-6. Demidov could follow a similar path, perhaps with an even faster progression thanks to his already impressive technical skill set.
Of course, adjusting to North American hockey will be a challenge for the Russian forward.
But according to D'Amico, St-Louis believes his offensive potential deserves a larger margin for error. In other words, his youthful mistakes will be forgiven if they come with flashes of brilliance.
For Canadiens fans, this vision is full of hope. After years of rebuilding, seeing a coach ready to bet on raw talent like Demidov confirms the organization's commitment to building around young stars. If St-Louis' predictions come true, Montreal may have found its next star.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 23 | 320 ANSWERS Martin St-Louis Hints at Breakout Opportunity for Canadiens' Young Talent Ivan Demidov Will Ivan Demidov score at least 20 goals next season? | ||
| Yes | 307 | 95.9 % |
| No | 13 | 4.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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