Ivan Demidov reportedly 'shocked NHL teams' in first off-ice meetings Tuesday

While defenseman Artyom Levshunov is more regularly highlighted in the news due to his comparable availability, the overall consensus on the Blackhawks’ No. 2 pick has recently started to tilt in his favor. Chicago has had repeated conversations with the Michigan State product, even taking him out to dinner during the NHL Scouting Combine.

But in his first chance to turn things around on Tuesday, forward Ivan Demidov proved to the media that the race is far from over. It appears the Blackhawks have narrowed their selection down to Demidov or Levshunov. While the latter was available for the team to gather more information, the former remained stuck in Russia, unable to attend the group due to political regulations.

In other words, until Tuesday. Agent Dan Milstein, who represents a number of Russian NHL players, hosted his own “combine” this week, allowing the league’s general managers a chance to meet and observe members of this draft class. Although Demidov was unable to skate due to an ankle injury (which is expected to be healed before development camp), all eyes were on the potential No. 2 pick as he met with teams and media. Demidov did not disappoint, and even “pleasantly shocked” NHL teams when they saw him for the first time.

The first thing teams noticed about Demidov was his size. Previously listed at 5-10, his average height was somewhat concerning for a Blackhawks team that already struggles in that department, counting as a mark against the talented forward. However, it was reported in Florida that this was not the case, with reporters estimating that he was at least six feet tall.

The other surprise for NHL executives was Demidov’s English – his interviews were almost all conducted in English. Demidov said he has been working on the language for some time, and while a language barrier is far from a deciding factor in today’s game, it is certainly a positive sign and probably gives at least a little boost to his draft stock.

From what the media could find, Milstein was able to allay some apprehensions regarding Demidov’s status in the KHL. There are plenty of reasons to be concerned when drafting Russian players, as teams don’t know when or if their picks will make it to North America. That’s not a problem for those considering Demidov, as Milstein says there are no plans for him to sign a KHL extension after this year (the final season of his current contract) and that he anticipates to come to North America in a year.

Finally, by speaking to the media, Demidov may have been able to increase his own draft stock. According to Sean Shapiro of EP Rinkside, Demidov said that although he is a winger, he works more like a center in the defensive zone in order to improve his overall impact. He mentioned that his explosiveness and agility can be a strength in all three zones and can “surprise people.” We know Demidov complements his strong offensive game with a good forecheck and stick positioning, but it’s great to see he’s working harder to become a two-way player.

While Levshunov has gained momentum of late, Demidov has used his opportunity to even the playing field better than anyone could have expected. He did not have the opportunity to show his talent on the ice, but Demidov did everything possible to impress the leaders of the league.