A well-known prospect among fans to replace Patrik Laine this year?
Since Patrik Laine's injury, the Montreal Canadiens face a significant challenge in finding a replacement to play alongside Kirby Dach in the offensive lineup.
Several names have been mentioned, including Joshua Roy, Alex Barré-Boulet, Josh Anderson, Joel Armia, and Oliver Kapanen. However, the most exciting option is Ivan Demidov, the Canadiens' 5th overall pick in the 2024 draft.
Despite being recognized for his immense talent and outstanding performances, Demidov is currently underutilized by his KHL team. Even though he was named Rookie of the Month and has shown strong offensive potential, he has not received much playing time.
This has led some to believe that a transfer to Montreal could be an intriguing solution to fill the void left by Patrik Laine's injury last week.
However, Bob Hartley, an expert well-versed in the workings of the KHL, expressed doubts about the feasibility of this option in the short term. Speaking with Martin Lemay on BPM Sports, Hartley stated:
This statement highlights the difficulty of extracting a player from the KHL during the season, even if he is unhappy with his ice time. Moreover, Demidov is still under contract for another year with his Russian team, and it is unlikely that they would release him so that the Canadiens can bring him over.
At this point, it seems unrealistic to expect Demidov to replace Patrik Laine in Montreal. Canadiens GM Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton will likely need to rely on internal solutions or short-term trades to compensate for Laine's absence.
Source et audio: BPM Sports
Demidov pour remplacer Laine: chronique de Bob Hartley
