When the Canadiens selected Ivan Demidov with the fifth overall pick in the recent NHL draft, many fans erupted in excitement. As we previously mentioned, several analysts had anticipated that the promising forward Demidov would be picked ahead of Cayden Lindstrom, who was taken by the Columbus Blue Jackets right before Kent Hughes and his hockey team, accompanied by Céline Dion, announced Demidov as their choice.
Looking back now, it seems the Canadiens benefited from good fortune, as Lindstrom, who has a troubling injury history, has yet to appear in a single game this season for the Medicine Hat Tigers. This raises significant concerns for the Blue Jackets, as elite offensive prospects are quite scarce, with Adam Fantilli being a notable exception.
In contrast, Demidov has been performing exceptionally well as one of the standout players for SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL, and Canadiens fans are eagerly anticipating his arrival in Montreal following his season in Russia. Additionally, we should remember the trade between the two organizations last August, where Kent Hughes dealt Jordan Harris to the Blue Jackets in exchange for Patrik Laine and a second-round draft pick.
Unfortunately for the Canadiens, Laine will be out for several more weeks because of a knee injury. Still, it’s reasonable to conclude that the Canadiens once again outmaneuvered the Blue Jackets.
On the other hand, Jordan Harris has participated in only half of his team’s games, totaling seven since the season began. In his most recent match, he finished with a -3 rating against the Winnipeg Jets and played for just under 13 minutes, as reported by his coach.
