The real reason exposed as to why several teams passed up on drafting Ivan Demidov: Including the Blackhawks
Photo credit: NHL.com
NHL Insiders were flabbergasted the days that the Chicago Blackhawks and Kyle Davidson would letIvan Demidov slip to 5th in the 2024 NHL Draft, letting the Montreal Canadiens draft the generational winger.
The Chicago Blackhawks would utilize their 2nd overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft on Belarusian defenseman Artyom Levshunov.
This surprised NHL insiders around the nation, as they believed Ivan Demidov was the superior player.
Like other NHL teams, the Blackhawks would again let a premium talent come at a discount for GM Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens, only a year after Matvei Michkov slipped to the Flyers (2023).
There remains a reason why Kyle Davidson and other teams would pass on Ivan Demidov.
According to NHL Insider Marco D'Amico It was Predetermined He'd Be A Hab
NHL Insider Marco D'Amico would appear on The Shaun Star Show and would wax poetic about the Canadiens' big draft pick in 2024, Ivan Demidov. In 2024, it appears that teams would let him slip, not because of character issues, which his teammate Michkov had been deemed a problem.
Instead, Demidov himself preferred to be drafted by the Original Six team in Montreal instead of the Blackhawks.
This explains the significant drop in his selection in 2024 entirely.
"Everyone knew that Ivan Demidov wanted to be drafted by the Canadian. "
- Marco D'Amico
- Marco D'Amico
The Habs also have a connection to the KHL and its talent through Nick Bobrov, who is the Canadiens' director of amateur scouting.
Bobrov gives CH a huge advantage when it comes to Russian hopes given that he has his Russian passport and can enter and leave the country as he pleases. "
- Marco D'Amico
- Marco D'Amico
Sometimes, some players aren't a cultural fit, and for Demidov, it appeared the signs were all there for him to choose Montreal over the Blackhawks and other teams in the draft, including the Columbus Blue Jackets, who selected Cayden Lindstrom instead.
Previously on HawksInsider
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