Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr.
What do all of those names have in common?
Each makes up one half of a legendary tandem, one that produced a Stanley Cup championship, and sometimes multiple. In the cases of the first two dynamic duos, the two players were drafted in subsequent seasons (Malkin No. 2 in 2004, Crosby No. 1 in 2005, Toews No. 3 in 2006, and Kane No. 1 in 2007). It’s safe to say those decisions worked out pretty well for the Penguins and Blackhawks.
This summer, Chicago has the power to repeat nearly the exact same process as before by drafting star Russian forward Ivan Demidov with the No. 2 overall pick. After being fortunate enough to draft Connor Bedard with last year’s top pick, the Blackhawks again find themselves with the opportunity to add a potentially elite talent to their top forward line of the future, forming a lethal young pairing with Bedard, who has already proven why he’s a franchise cornerstone.
The Blackhawks will be counting on whoever they select with the No. 2 pick to transform their franchise, and few prospects are better suited to do so than Demidov. A star with SKA St. Petersburg, Demidov is best known for his dynamic ability with the puck. He’s not the fastest straight-line skater, but his shiftiness and creativity make him a lethal passer and playmaker.
Multiple insiders have raved about Demidov’s skill and work ethic. His creativity makes him an enticing option for the Blackhawks’ power play unit, which was among the worst in the NHL last season. Imagining him finding Bedard for high-danger scoring chances is enough to make any GM salivate.
Demidov seems like a no-brainer for Chicago at No. 2, but he’s not without his flaws. His average size isn’t individually an issue, but he doesn’t solve the problem of Chicago’s already undersized forward group. He’s also an “unorthodox” skater, with a motion that allows him increased playmaking but at the cost of a high injury risk when taking big hits.
In pre-draft debates over whether the Blackhawks should take Demidov or defenseman Artyom Levshunov with the second pick, the biggest concern for the former is the fear that he won’t be able to come over from Russia as soon as Chicago would like. However, with Demidov’s contract expiring after next season, he already refused to extend his deal in the KHL. With players beyond No. 1 overall usually joining the NHL around a year after being drafted, there’s a chance Demidov wouldn’t miss any more time than a North American prospect with the same skill set. Are the Blackhawks willing to trust that he’ll join the team next season?
The thought of Demidov joining an elite tandem in Chicago similar to some of the most successful teams in history is certainly an exciting one. Despite a few concerns about his game and situation, Demidov is one of the most exciting prospects of the past several years and has certainly earned his fair share of consideration with the Blackhawks’ No. 2 pick.
