2024 Draft Review - Demidov Era

·33 min·3 clips

The Canadiens secretly wanted Ivan Demidov since 2023, drafting Ryan Bacher as part of a long-term plan to eventually get him.

The episode begins with the hosts introducing the draft review topic and discussing the Canadiens' trade with the Los Angeles Kings to move from 26th to 21st overall, using a second and seventh-round pick. They speculate that the target was Cole Eiserman, but the team ended up selecting Michael Hage. The conversation shifts to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's struggles, noting no QMJHL players were taken in the first round for the second consecutive year, which the hosts attribute to development issues. The hosts then delve into the Canadiens' selection of Ivan Demidov at fifth overall, revealing that the team had targeted him since 2023 and may have drafted Ryan Bacher strategically to position for Demidov. They credit luck, as Columbus and Anaheim passed on Demidov, allowing Montreal to pick him. Comparisons are made between Demidov and Matvei Michkov, with Demidov seen as more complete. Later-round picks are reviewed, including Aatos Koivu, Logan Sawyer, and Tyler Thorpe, with an emphasis on size and character. The hosts conclude by grading the draft an A-plus, highlighting Demidov's potential impact and the overall prospect pool strength.

As heard by us

Montreal's Demidov pick gets a steady look at planning, timing, and draft luck.

Habs Unfiltered turns Montreal's Demidov pick into a compact read on patience, leverage, and the luck that can bend a rebuild. The discussion frames the selection around movement near the top of the draft: teams trying to get ahead of Montreal, Columbus holding at four for…

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Why you'd press play

Want to know how Montreal ended up with Demidov after Columbus held its pick and Anaheim passed?

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