Good News: Canadiens Confirm The Signing Of Top Experienced Star Compared To Guy Lafleur!

When the Canadiens select a player early in the draft, there are always high expectations. Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Alex Galchenyuk, Juraj Slafkovsky and David Reinbacher were no exception.

This time, the pressure is on for the tricolore’s fifth-round draft pick, Ivan Demidov. He’s now being compared to Guy Lafleur!

At least, that’s what Grant McCagg said on Tony Marinaro’s Sick Podcast .

I think he may be the most purely talented player the Canadiens have drafted since Guy Lafleur. – Grant McCagg

True, McCagg can get carried away at times and make shocking pronouncements, but he isn’t the only one who has done so.

According to Marco D’Amico of Montreal Hockey Now, a scout believes Ivan Demidov is the Canadiens’ most promising forward draft pick since Guy Lafleur.

Ivan Demidov is a Montreal Canadien.

Soak it in Habs fans, you got a good one.

One scout to me last night: "The best potential of any forward Montreal has selected since Lafleur."

👀

— Marco D'Amico (@mndamico) June 29, 2024

When two people say it, it can no longer be considered a crazy statement. You have to go back a long way to discuss Guy Lafleur’s draft pick. That was back in 1971.

No pressure, Ivan, but you’re being compared to a player who has 1353 points in 1126 NHL games and five Stanley Cup victories.

This is an exceedingly positive analogy, but keep in mind that Demidov was born in 2005. He wants to compare himself to more recent NHL players that he has seen play.

Demidov compared his playing style to Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Hughes, and Nikita Kucherov prior to the draft. We agree that it isn’t Guy Lafleur’s level, but we’re still talking about NHL stars.

Guy Lafleur was a superb player who could also perform under duress. When your name is repeated by thousands of people in an amphitheater, you must feel a little pressure. However, Demidov appears to be prepared for this.

He’s even begged the Canadiens organization for the opportunity, according to Nick Bobrov!

For sure, “Ivan! Ivan! Ivan!” doesn’t sound as good as “Guy! Guy! Guy!”. We’ll find a way to cheer him properly.