Does anyone know if there any “Russian factor” concerns with Demidov that could lead to him dropping in the draft? I’m not especially intrigued in the flames targeting him but I’m wondering if there are certain players that might drop simply due to teams worrying about picking a player that’s playing/committed to russia (similar to Michkov last year).
If I had to pick a player that I could see going higher in the draft it’s Cayden Lindstrom… the raw skill, speed and size he has while playing center is a difficult package to pass over. Most lists have him outside the top five right now but I could see I’m jumping up into that group.
Does anyone know if there any “Russian factor” concerns with Demidov that could lead to him dropping in the draft? I’m not especially intrigued in the flames targeting him but I’m wondering if there are certain players that might drop simply due to teams worrying about picking a player that’s playing/committed to russia (similar to Michkov last year).
If I had to pick a player that I could see going higher in the draft it’s Cayden Lindstrom… the raw skill, speed and size he has while playing center is a difficult package to pass over. Most lists have him outside the top five right now but I could see I’m jumping up into that group.
Exactly right about Lindstrom. As for the Russian factor, it's real and always present, and with the state of the world these days, it's only getting worse IMO. Ask Flyers' prospect G Ivan Fedotov how much Russia likes to lose it's players to their enemies. Up until now, it hasn't affected the NHL bringing their top prospects over much, but it often takes a few years for said players contracts to expire in the KHL. However, it may get harder-Fedotov was supposed to come to NA this season, but he signed a 2-year contract with the KHL (I suspect he didn't have much of a choice) after being arrested and forced into his mandatory military service, that prevents him from going to the NHL. The Flyers have appealed to the IIHF.
Demidov's deal in the KHL lasts until the end of 2024-25. His 64 points in 44 MHL games last year is a record for U-18 players, and he might be better than Michkov. I still see him dropping a few spots, as Michkov did.
Last edited by Sandman; 01-08-2024 at 11:47 PM.
The Following User Says Thank You to Sandman For This Useful Post:
For me watching him play here in Kelowna I think anybody picking him inside the top 10 is reaching big time. He's going to be a good complementary cast winger who might score a bunch, good offensive instincts and finishing but he cheats a fair bit and doesn't drive play himself. Though players change a lot over time so maybe his game evolves as he gets older, he's much younger than most of the guys he is competing against. But doesn't make things happen the same way Catton does. Subjective opinion anyway.
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Matty81 For This Useful Post:
Yeah I don't even mind them reaching a bit for him with a 2nd pick in the teens if the flames can get one in a Lindholm or Hanifin deal, I think he's a late 1st round talent most years so it's not as if he's not a very good player - but that first pick if it's a top 10, this draft seems pretty good for those first 10 slots. 5 very good potential franchise cornerstone forwards it seems like and a mittful of good potential top pairing dmen.
The Following User Says Thank You to Matty81 For This Useful Post:
Imagine getting another first rounder, then we draft Cayden Lindstrom and Tig Iginla. Maybe trade a second to go higher up in the draft to do so. Good lord that would be amazing.
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Muta For This Useful Post:
Kenta Isogai is an interesting WHL prospect. He has 56 points in 37 WHL games. Overager (19 years old). Small (5'11), but not tiny. It looks like he was actually born in Japan.
And he just had a hattrick the other day:
Good point totals, but he turns 20 not long after the draft. I wonder if someone will use a 6th/7th on him, or sign him after the draft (like the Flames did in 2011 with Turner Elson).
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to 1qqaaz For This Useful Post:
Imagine getting another first rounder, then we draft Cayden Lindstrom and Tig Iginla. Maybe trade a second to go higher up in the draft to do so. Good lord that would be amazing.
I'm going to be a little disappointed if the Flames don't go to the draft with 3 first round picks this year.
Their own, plus two others from trading Lindholm and Hanifin.
Maybe Tanev with retention gets you yet another.
The Following User Says Thank You to Roof-Daddy For This Useful Post:
Kenta Isogai is an interesting WHL prospect. He has 56 points in 37 WHL games. Overager (19 years old). Small (5'11), but not tiny. It looks like he was actually born in Japan.
And he just had a hattrick the other day:
Good point totals, but he turns 20 not long after the draft. I wonder if someone will use a 6th/7th on him, or sign him after the draft (like the Flames did in 2011 with Turner Elson).
Given his age, I doubt he gets drafted, but I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a camp invite as a free agent. He had a few decent, but not outstanding years in the USHL before going to the WHL and picking up the production. He could be a late bloomer.
__________________
"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
The Following User Says Thank You to FlamesAddiction For This Useful Post:
I'm going to be a little disappointed if the Flames don't go to the draft with 3 first round picks this year.
Their own, plus two others from trading Lindholm and Hanifin.
Maybe Tanev with retention gets you yet another.
It would be a crazy story if the flames did end up with 3 picks in the first round and made some extra trades to move up and pick Tij Iginla with their second of their first round picks. I’m assuming Tij will go before the 17th overall pick and that the flames 2nd and 3rd first round picks from the Lindholm and Hanifin trades are outside the top 20. If the flames were set to pick 22nd overall and he was still available at say 16th overall… they might be able to jump up to that spot if they attached a 2nd and 3rd round pick along with the 22nd overall pick.
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to stemit14 For This Useful Post:
Lindstrom and Tij would be a dream of a first round. If not Tij, I also like Yakemchuk from the hitmen with a mid rounder. Hopefully Conroy has a couple deals in place and is waiting for a team like the Devils to fold on how protected the pick is. They arent in a secure playoff position and if that pick ends up being 12-15, the flames could reload here pretty quickly.
Lindstrom and Tij would be a dream of a first round. If not Tij, I also like Yakemchuk from the hitmen with a mid rounder. Hopefully Conroy has a couple deals in place and is waiting for a team like the Devils to fold on how protected the pick is. They arent in a secure playoff position and if that pick ends up being 12-15, the flames could reload here pretty quickly.
Absolutely. A draft like that has the potential to set the flames up at center ice for the rebuild. Tij is listed as a center but I’m not sure if he will project to be a winger or centerman at the NHL level but, if he did, the flames in 3-4 years could have Lindstrom-Zary-Iginla up the middle.
Both Tij and Lindstrom are younger guys in this draft so they both likely need a few extra years of development till they reach their potential.
The Following User Says Thank You to stemit14 For This Useful Post:
Whats the story on Drew Basha? I think he's a Calgary kid who has similar production to Lindstrom on the Med Hat Tigers but gets no run here at all and seems to be ranked mid 20s. Is this a guy for the Flames to keep an eye on if they get another pick or 2 in the bottom half of the 1st round? Im a little surprised his name has come up as infrequently as it has.
