And clearly, he wasn’t too rusty, scoring the game’s first goal… and doing so with a magnificent shot.
A closer look at Ivan Demidov’s goal from today pic.twitter.com/ChFjgYaY0e
– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) August 17, 2024
If Demidov is going to have to fight for playing time with a big team, seeing him put in such a performance will help him win points. He needs to show that he deserves a big role, and it’s all the more important that he does so considering that he started later than the others.
But that doesn’t stop his coach from noticing Demidov’s good work. In an address to his team after the game(which was shared on the SKA account’s Instagram Story), club coach Roman Rotenberg took the time to give some love to the Habs prospect:
Vanya [Ivan] Demidov was incredible today. – Roman Rotenberg
SKA coach Roman Rotenberg talking to his team after a scrimmage game:
“Ivan Demidov did a good job today.” pic.twitter.com/eiZ4AeRbiv
– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) August 17, 2024
In recent years, we’ve often heard about Rotenberg’s reputation with youngsters aiming for the NHL. He’s often uncompromising with these youngsters, and to see him praise Demidov like that (in front of the rest of the team) shows that the kid really impressed him today.
And at the same time, maybe it was an attempt to sting the veterans’ pride.
One intra-squad game doesn’t a season make, clearly. That said, if Demidov can string together a few performances like that and stay in Rotenberg’s good graces, he can probably forget about a world in which he’ll spend the year in the VHL.
We’ll see if Demidov can steal the show again in the coming days, though he’ll soon have to focus on the Puchkov tournament, where he’ll captain the U23 squad .
But as long as his coach with SKA gives him that kind of love, it will probably reassure the Habs’ management. All that remains to be seen is whether this will change during the regular season.
Overtime
– The Habs are in second place, just behind the Sharks.
Le Journal took a tour of the 32-team NHL affiliate https://t.co/ZfYmGS4TQU
– TVA Sports (@TVASports) August 17, 2024
– Love for QMJHL prospects.
This is one of the best crop of draft prospects in the #QMJHL draft since 2013. Get out and watch some junior hockey this season, folks. https://t. co/qyCaBIk5pG
– Grant McCagg (@grantmccagg) August 17, 2024
– Great Patrick Mahomes.
This guy is just playing backyard football out here.
: #DETvsKC on @NFLNetwork
: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/wLoJ15AgG9– NFL (@NFL) August 17, 2024
– The Québécois shines in a prep game.
BOOM
Mathieu Betts with the sack!#DETvsKC | Lions TV Network pic.twitter.com/rRde7yFjNc
– Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 17, 2024
– Jannik Sinner continues his journey in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Tournament | Sinner defeats Rublev to advance to semis https://t.co/3ghf6xH4Vp
– La Presse Sports (@LaPresse_Sports) August 17, 2024