It’s not exaggerating to say this week for the Calgary Flames is one of the franchise’s biggest in recent memory. We’re diving in on all of it in the latest edition of our Flames Mailbag.
After the San Jose Sharks step to the podium at the Sphere in Las Vegas Friday and select forward Macklin Celebrini first overall, the NHL Draft has the potential to take some twists and turns in the early stages.
My personal draft list has Russian forward Ivan Demidov (SKA St. Petersburg) securely ranked second. I’ve been high on Demidov dating back to the fall. His combination of speed, skill, and power are elements I believe will translate to a top end scorer in the NHL.
The Chicago Blackhawks hold the second pick. They might value Demidov the way I do, or they could go in a different direction by selecting right-shot defenceman Artyom Levshunov (Michigan State, NCAA). Is there a chance they trade down from number two? I suppose, but only if they see equal value in the next seven or eight prospects on their draft board.
And is there any chance the Blackhawks pass on Demidov at second overall and then the Ducks pass on him as well at three?
Time will tell. Demidov is one of the early wild cards in this draft, but I’m sticking with him as the best option for the second overall pick. Here’s my breakdown of Demidov, supported with some clips from this season.
DECEPTION
Some goal scorers have a “grip it and rip it” approach — think Steven Stamkos one-timing pucks from the weak side flank on the power play — while others are more calculated at times. Demidov is the latter.
Demidov is an elite offensive talent with elite hockey sense in high danger scoring areas. He can be deceptive with the puck on his stick when he walks off the wall, or makes plays from below the goal line.
Here’s an example of Demidov stepping to the middle of the ice and using the defender as a screen to score a goal through traffic:
POWER
Demidov is plenty strong for the NHL game. He’s been measured at 6-foot-and-a-half, and 192 pounds. I’ve discussed his puck touch and hockey sense going on offence, but there isn’t a lot of time and space available in the NHL. More often than not players have to power through checks to create scoring chances. Demidov is difficult to check in motion and in the trenches.
Teams around the world at all levels are using the neutral zone flip pass as a way to generate speed and scoring chances in transition. The following clip illustrates Demidov “loading” in his zone to generate speed, corralling a puck in the neutral zone, and powering to the net.
READ, REACT AND EXPLODE
Today’s brand of pro hockey is being played quicker and faster than it ever has before. Players who don’t provide some sort of “burst” exiting their defensive zone to go on offence (with and without the puck on their stick) are a dying breed. Players have to read the play and react to what they identify either as a need to defend, or to attack offensively and then explode to the open ice to create scoring chances.
Here’s an example of Demidov out-racing his opponents up ice after identifying his teammate had control of the puck:
Almost all offensive talents will frustrate coaches on occasion with a lack of detail off the puck and on the back-check. Players li
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