It appears as though the Philadelphia Flyers will soon have their man. Is this possibly one more hint as to what the Blackhawks will select when they select second overall?
Regarding Ivan Demidov, the main objection for some is whether or not he will sign a contract to play for the Blackhawks once it expires. Given that he still has one year left, that would seem to be 2025 at the latest.
However, with Matvei Mitchkov allegedly walking away from his KHL contract, could this be the most recent sign that the stigma associated with Russian players in the KHL—that they won’t quit for the NHL—finally give up?
This is only the most recent in a string of reports suggesting that Chicago will select Demidov if they finish second overall.
Demidov Seems Like The Blackhawks’ Choice Increasingly
A KHL scout who recently spoke with Scott Powers of The Athletic couldn’t say enough good things about Demidov’s skill. What’s noteworthy, though, is that the scout informed Powers that Demidov intends to “go overseas” rather than extend his KHL contract. Furthermore, the scout predicted that Demidov will develop into a five-point scorer, which is an incredible prospect for an offensively deficient team like the Blackhawks.
Hence, it is certain that Demidov will join the Blackhawks given his talent and seeming personality, as well as the fact that he will soon sign a deal with Chicago. He and Connor Bedard, two young, intriguing attackers, would be part of the talent up front, which would solve that major problem.
When more details become available, the boxes appear to be almost checked. All that’s left to decide is whether the Blackhawks should sell this pick or not. Could the San Jose Sharks surprise everyone by selecting Ivan Demidov first overall? Macklin Celebrini appears to be the likely top choice, but stranger things have happened. In any case, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now appears to have already reserved the #1 pick for Celebrini.
It’s something more to keep an eye on as the NHL Draft of 2024 draws nearer.
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