Many scouts believe that Ivan Demidov’s skating is a concern.
Corey Pronman often has a critical perspective when discussing Canadiens prospects. For instance, in his latest ranking of players and prospects under 23, he placed Demidov 17th, which sparked some debate. In his analysis, he described Demidov as having a below-average skating technique, despite the fact that the Russian is quite agile on his skates. His ability to pivot easily enhances his creativity on the ice.
Arpon Basu approached Pronman to challenge this assessment and sought clarification on his comments.
Pronman defended his viewpoint, stating that many NHL scouts share the same concern. While he acknowledges Demidov’s strength as a skater, he finds his technique awkward, noting that his knees tend to bend inward as he skates.
“I’d say most NHL scouts I’ve discussed this with think his skating stroke is a problem, rather than a strength,” Pronman said.
Although it’s true that Demidov isn’t the most explosive skater, his agility while pivoting is one of his standout attributes. He draws inspiration from Kirill Kaprizov, and their similar styles are evident in their fluid movement and directional changes.
While Demidov may need to work on his speed and technique in the future, labeling his skating as a problem offers a different perspective.
