2024 NHL Draft Prospect Roundup: Ivan Demidov is back, baby

Credit: Ivan Demidov (Yuri Kuzmin/KHL)

One of the best prospects for the 2024 NHL Draft is back swinging.

A knee injury in October kept him out for over a month and a half, just one game after getting sent by SKA St. Petersburg down to the MHL. He returned on Nov. 20 with a two-point effort and now has nine points in six games since returning, nabbing at least one point in each contest. He hit 10 shots for the first time this year this past Wednesday to go along with a two-goal effort.

He’s back. And better than ever.

Demidov is projected to go in the top three next June, with many scouts even considering him the best option behind Macklin Celebrini. The contract concerns that plagued Matvei Michkov’s draft campaign aren’t there, with Demidov having just one more year left on his current deal.

Demidov has so much going for him. He’s extremely creative, has quick hands, is good on his feet and makes smart decisions with the puck. Demidov will beat players with a stutter-step move that leaves a defenseman confused, and his release is incredibly deceptive, in a few ways. He’ll lull you into thinking he’s going up high before beating a goaltender between the legs. Other times, he’ll wind up before purposely shooting much softer. Scouts love his release, but it’s how he chooses to use it that makes him difficult to stop.

“He’s got the ability to be a hero out there, someone who can just show up, dominate and make everyone around him better,” a scout said. “He knows teams zero in on him and he thrives on the challenge.”

Will he be better than Michkov? We’ll see. But the sky seems to be the limit for the winger turning 18 this weekend.

OHL

– I love strong, physical players who can score, and Cole Beaudoin meets the criteria. The son of former NHLer Eric Beaudoin, Cole has tallied three two-point losses, including two in loss where Barrie still managed to score six goals each. Keeping pucks out of the net has been a difficult task for the Colts, but Beaudoin’s reliable two-way play and great release have made him a potential first-round pick this year. He started the season off hot with Canada’s U-18 team and has been one of Barrie’s best players ever since.

– Now the third Frasca brother to come through the ranks, it’s Gabriel Frasca‘s turn to show what he can do. After a solid rookie season with Kingston last year, he started the year off with an injury and only finally got into playing action last week. He kicked off his season debut with two assists in an 8-6 loss to North Bay but scored a goal en route to a win against Flint two nights later. Add in another two goals on Thursday, too. It’s tough for a draft prospect to miss as much time as Frasca did, but he’s got the hockey mind and the shot to get him up to speed quickly.

WHL

– Carter Yakemchuk is a human highlight reel. In a similar vein to Brandt Clarke a few years back, Yakemchuk is willing to use his speed to surprise opponents in their own zone and capitalize on the scoresheet. It’s why he’s on pace for 33 goals and 80 points in a full season with the Calgary Hitmen. While he can sometimes get himself caught out trying to do too much, the risk-reward nature of his game can be thrilling. He’s a top 15 prospect as of right now.

QMJHL

– I’m not sure how much draft interest there is in Jakub Milota, but the Czech-born goalie deserves some love. Statistically, he’s 7-6-1 with two shutouts and a .916 save percentage in his first year in North America – which, on a team like Cape Breton, is solid. The athletic goaltender is a battler, and he has decent size at 6-foot-2, as well. His rebound control needs improvement, and that was something that was spotlighted at the Hlinka, but I could see a team taking a chance on him in the latter rounds.

USHL

– How about Tory Pitner? He’s one to keep a close eye on at the World Junior A Challenge next week. He had a quiet showing on the scoresheet with USA at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, but he’s on pace for 50 points with Youngstown and, defensively looks responsible. The right-hander has some high upside and likes to get physical, too. His hockey sense needs improving, but there’s something here.

Prep

– Dean Letourneau is getting plenty of praise these days, and for good reason. He’s listed at 6-foot-6 but moves well for his size. Even when he isn’t actively on the attack, the Boston College commit does an excellent job of doing everything possible to keep the puck on his stick. Letourneau is one of the most impressive players in prep hockey, scoring 32 goals and 63 points in 28 games with St. Andrew’s College, and I fully expect him to land within the first two rounds of the 2024 NHL Draft.

– While watching Letourneau in Aurora last week, I also got to catch Ryker Lee for the first time since the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He wasn’t really noticeable back then, but the Michigan State University commit can definitely skate. He’s a ball of energy, and he’s been rewarded with 19 goals and 40 points in 25 games. I’m not sure he has a complete enough game to be drafted this year, but a few scouts I chatted with have him on their radar.

Switzerland

– Will Leon Muggli play a big role for Switzerland’s WJC team? A minute-muncher at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Muggli has played just about everywhere in EVZ Zug’s lineup in the National League and recently had two points with a season-high 17:24 in ice time. At 17, he’s looking like a strong, mobile defenseman that doesn’t get pressured into making mistakes. I could see him going in the top 64 thanks to his experience playing against pro making him look very competent.

– Christian Kirsch‘s career has been a bit of a whirlwind. He was highly regarded against his own competition and had a perfect run with Zug’s U-20 team last year. He struggled mightily at the U-18 World Championship, though, and had a so-so Hlinka Gretzky Cup this past summer. But the University of Massachusetts product has been nearly unstoppable with Zug again, going 15-2-0 with two shutouts. He’s among the top U-20 goalies in Switzerland, so it was a little bit surprising that he wasn’t taken for the world juniors. Still, he’s looking good.

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2024 NHL Draft Prospect Roundup: Ivan Demidov is back, baby

OHL

WHL

QMJHL

USHL

Prep

Switzerland

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