It’s not surprising that the young Russian talent is attracting attention in both Quebec and the U.S.
Ivan Demidov leads the prospect rankings
ESPN has placed Demidov at the top of the NHL prospects who have yet to play in the league.
“Demidov possesses remarkable talent and is a genuine game-changer. His exceptional skills enhance his chances of becoming an NHL superstar. There is a strong likelihood he will become an elite offensive player, consistently scoring over a point per game for ten years in the NHL. He is undoubtedly the top talent outside the NHL.”
Completing the top five in this ranking, Demidov is followed by Artyom Levshunov (Chicago), Alexander Nikishin (Carolina), Zayne Parekh (Calgary), and Zeev Buium (Minnesota).
Additionally, another Canadiens player, David Reinbacher, appears in this list at 27th, although ESPN seems to overlook the defenseman’s injury.
DLC – David Reinbacher: ESPN appears to misunderstand the severity of his injury.
“If he can make progress in his development this year, he may get some NHL ice time, but it’s more realistic to anticipate he’ll be a full-time NHL player next season. Reinbacher is projected as a middle-pairing defenseman who can contribute in various situations and help tilt the ice in his team’s favor. While he might see some minutes in the NHL this season if he improves, it’s more plausible to expect him to become a regular next year.”
Despite the apparent bias in their assessment, it’s very encouraging to see the defenseman included in the top 50.
