ESPN released their top prospect NHL rankings, and guess who came in at number one: Montreal Canadiens prospect Ivan Demidov.
Although the NHL season may only be two weeks old, some other professional leagues have been in action since September, including the KHL, where Montreal Canadiens prospect Ivan Demidov plays.
As SKA St. Petersburg approaches their 20th contest of the 2024-25 season, Demidov has already been named Rookie of the Month (September) and Rookie of the Week (October) and has 15 points in 19 games.
Today, ESPN released their rankings for top NHL prospects, and according to Rachel Doerrie, Demidov is number one, dubbing him "the most talented player outside of the NHL, without a doubt."
Here's a peek at the top five:
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Demidov's journey this season has made headlines in Russia and North America despite being labeled the top prospect. Fans believe he's been underutilized, while SKA St. Petersburg's head coach says the 18-year-old needs to learn his role and earn his opportunities.
However, ESPN's latest rankings prove that Canadiens fans are correct in their belief that Demidov is an impact player who will eventually come to Montreal and make a difference.