Who should the Chicago Blackhawks select 2nd overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft?

[Kevin Musto]

I'm not on board - multiple knee injuries at 18 is a bad sign.

These boys are healthy

 

[TLEH]

I, for one, welcome a robot with a bionic Russian knee.

 

[Caser]

Here is the vid with him and the crutches btw:

 

[Chelios]

Based on the video of the injury, most likely injuries would be the MCL at the knee or a high ankle sprain. The boot suggests the latter.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Again, he's in Russia. How exactly will they be doing their "due diligence" on his medicals? That will be in Russian, performed by Russian doctors, and likely be influenced by his agent. (you know, Russian corruption).

There's absolutely no way to verify the status of his knee without having him come over, and evaluating it yourself.

There are MILLIONS of dollars on the line here. To believe his medicals wouldn't be doctored to show exactly what they need to show to keep him at #2, is naive.

It's a routine injury that happens all the time and is usually pretty minor. It's hockey, players get hurt (see most recent Blackhawks season), running away because a player suffered a pretty normal injury in the 2nd to last game his team played this year would be beyond foolish. "performed by Russian doctors", you speak like Russia is North Korea...

 

[Caser]

Based on the video of the injury, most likely injuries would be the MCL at the knee or a high ankle sprain. The boot suggests the latter.

I mean, as I re-watched that celebration vid again and again it doesn't look like to me that his knee is fixated in any way, it clearly bends and apparently moves rather freely.

 

[ChiHawks10]

He had crutches, but he was holding those, not walking on them. Do you have some link for what his agent was saying? I don't think I've read that, probably missed it.

There are a couple Athletic articles that quote his agent Dan Milstein as saying knee injury and won't require surgery. Then this.



Translation:

INFO:

Ivan Demidov is recovering well from his knee injury suffered in the MHL final. He won't need surgery. He is expected to return to full fitness before the draft and will therefore be able to train without restrictions for the upcoming season.

 

[Mrfenn92]

My guess is he will see team doctors with no issue

 

[Caser]

There are a couple Athletic articles that quote his agent Dan Milstein as saying knee injury and won't require surgery. Then this.



Translation:

INFO:

Ivan Demidov is recovering well from his knee injury suffered in the MHL final. He won't need surgery. He is expected to return to full fitness before the draft and will therefore be able to train without restrictions for the upcoming season.

I saw a quote on the main boards and there Milstein just told that no surgery will be required, didn't specify what the injury is, I have no idea where this Martenau guy is getting his info from though. Still on that vid from two weeks ago he doesn't seem to be bothered by the knee, but is definitely bothered by the ankle.

 

[WarriorofTime]

There are a couple Athletic articles that quote his agent Dan Milstein as saying knee injury and won't require surgery. Then this.



Translation:

INFO:

Ivan Demidov is recovering well from his knee injury suffered in the MHL final. He won't need surgery. He is expected to return to full fitness before the draft and will therefore be able to train without restrictions for the upcoming season.

Which we are not to take at face value because Demidov, Milstein, the doctors, Rotenberg and Putin are sitting around a table conspiring on how to scam the Blackhawks out of.. drafting a player too highly.

 

[Wally1112pac]

Still on board with going full Demigod.

Bedard had his jaw broken this year. Injuries happen.

Seems like Demidov will be 100% before the draft and will be able to train with no problems for the rest of the off season.

Hawks are going to their due diligence with him. As they will with Levshunov, Silyev, Lindstrom, Buium, Dickinson and the rest...

 

[deytookerjaabs]

It's a routine injury that happens all the time and is usually pretty minor. It's hockey, players get hurt (see most recent Blackhawks season), running away because a player suffered a pretty normal injury in the 2nd to last game his team played this year would be beyond foolish. "performed by Russian doctors", you speak like Russia is North Korea...

Still, multiple 6/8 week leg injuries in one's draft year is absolutely something to keep in mind.

Given that issue & the fact that he's not been allowed a better shot against the pros where we can get different eye test I think there's legitimate reason to have some pause. He had a monster but short season then great playoffs. Truth is, some guys just get injured more and that follows them their whole career. Dach had "injury issues" that were pooh pooh'd, now he's an injury waiting to happen.

In hindsight everyone likes to play Monday morning quarterback. Point is, I'm not sure I could evaluate whether an 18 year old who killed the MHL this year would be the next Kucherov or the next Yakupov (who played in NA before draft)? No clue

I do think there's a current FOMO on the next Russian super star because of a few draft steals, Tampa's success certainly a part of that.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Yakupov doesn’t even make sense if your concern is the MHL as he played in the OHL. Any major junior darling could be that regardless of where they are from.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Still on board with going full Demigod.

Bedard had his jaw broken this year. Injuries happen.

Seems like Demidov will be 100% before the draft and will be able to train with no problems for the rest of the off season.

Hawks are going to their due diligence with him. As they will with Levshunov, Silyev, Lindstrom, Buium, Dickinson and the rest...

If Demidov had a jaw injury, there wouldn't be any discussion about it

 

[deytookerjaabs]

Yakupov doesn’t even make sense if your concern is the MHL as he played in the OHL. Any major junior darling could be that regardless of where they are from.

I said he played in NA in my post.

And, his success over here was part of why he was touted so highly.

 

[Wally1112pac]

If Demidov had a jaw injury, there wouldn't be any discussion about it

That's why I said the Hawks will do their due diligence.

 

[ChiHawks10]

I saw a quote on the main boards and there Milstein just told that no surgery will be required, didn't specify what the injury is, I have no idea where this Martenau guy is getting his info from though. Still on that vid from two weeks ago he doesn't seem to be bothered by the knee, but is definitely bothered by the ankle.

I'm not saying the Hawks shouldn't draft him. Not by any means. I think he has the highest ceiling, and is the most talented player in the draft, outside of Celebrini. I just think that I'd take pause on the Hawks drafting him if their own doctors aren't able to examine him and do their due diligence to confirm he's not going to have continued leg problems moving forward. The Hawks essentially HAVE to hit on this player to give them a realistic shot at building another contender, IMO. So drafting a guy who is going to be a constant injury risk would suck.

 

[WarriorofTime]

I said he played in NA in my post.

And, his success over here was part of why he was touted so highly.

Right and that's why the comparison didn't make sense, unless it's just blindly speculating on how a prospect could bust, which is the same as anyone...

 

[Caser]

I'm not saying the Hawks shouldn't draft him. Not by any means. I think he has the highest ceiling, and is the most talented player in the draft, outside of Celebrini. I just think that I'd take pause on the Hawks drafting him if their own doctors aren't able to examine him and do their due diligence to confirm he's not going to have continued leg problems moving forward. The Hawks essentially HAVE to hit on this player to give them a realistic shot at building another contender, IMO.

It might be surprising, but I'm not exactly a fan of Demidov. However when I come here and read some strange arguments like "you can't evaluate someone in the MHL" or about this mysterious knee injury that noone in Russia has heard of and that allows him to almost to dance on the ice in that celebration vid... I mean, I don't even know how to react to that.

 

[Mrfenn92]

Only 8 weeks to go until the draft

 

[deytookerjaabs]

Right and that's why the comparison didn't make sense, unless it's just blindly speculating on how a prospect could bust, which is the same as anyone...

Well, it was just the fact that Yak came over and played well against "them good old Canadian boys" thus he wasn't just a product of Russia juniors. That helped solidify his draft capital.

 

[Pez68]

It might be surprising, but I'm not exactly a fan of Demidov. However when I come here and read some strange arguments like "you can't evaluate someone in the MHL" or about this mysterious knee injury that noone in Russia has heard of and that allows him to almost to dance on the ice in that celebration vid... I mean, I don't even know how to react to that.

I assume you're in Russia? If so, if you have sources that contradict the report from his agent and all of the NA scouting regarding his knee, even if in Russian, please share them? Kind of proves our point about players in Russia though, doesn't it? We can't even get a definitive report on WHAT he injured.

 

[WarriorofTime]

I assume you're in Russia? If so, if you have sources that contradict the report from his agent and all of the NA scouting regarding his knee, even if in Russian, please share them? Kind of proves our point about players in Russia though, doesn't it? We can't even get a definitive report on WHAT he injured.

What proves your point that it’s a serious injury that requires surgery though?

 

[TLEH]

It might be surprising, but I'm not exactly a fan of Demidov. However when I come here and read some strange arguments like "you can't evaluate someone in the MHL" or about this mysterious knee injury that noone in Russia has heard of and that allows him to almost to dance on the ice in that celebration vid... I mean, I don't even know how to react to that.

What about Demidov do you not like?

 

[deytookerjaabs]

It might be surprising, but I'm not exactly a fan of Demidov. However when I come here and read some strange arguments like "you can't evaluate someone in the MHL" or about this mysterious knee injury that noone in Russia has heard of and that allows him to almost to dance on the ice in that celebration vid... I mean, I don't even know how to react to that.

What about Demidov do you not like?

And....

Since we're discussing this guy at #2.

Who do you think scouts are sleeping on that could be a draft steal?