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Even with the NHL Draft upon us this week, it is still unclear exactly who Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson will select with the second overall pick of the first round on Friday.
Last weekend, Scott Powers of The Athletic wrote that Davidson’s final decision had not been made, but that it was down to defender Artyom Levshunov or winger Ivan Demidov.
Given the profile of each of those skaters, it’s not shocking news to hear that information stated by a reputable reporter. Still, after Macklin Celebrini is taken first overall there is little consensus in the scouting community at the top of this year’s entry draft.
Levshunov was the third-youngest player in college hockey last season and is the second-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting. He is a 205-pound right-shot defender who displayed strong mobility given his 6-foot-1 frame and quality skill on the puck. He put up 35 points in 38 games, which ranked second among freshman defenders to Zeev Buium, who should also be drafted in the top-10.
Levshunov is viewed as the far safer of two options the Blackhawks are reportedly debating. Given Levshunov’s defensive upside, he should be a near lock to be a top-four NHL defender, while his puck skill suggests he will likely be more than that.
Just like Russian forward Matvei Michkov last season, Demidov is the wildcard in this year’s top-five picks.
Demidov is the skater with the highest superstar potential in the draft aside from Celebrini. A highly skilled winger is always going to be viewed as a riskier bet than a defender or a center, and Demidov is also under contract with SKA St. Petersburg for the upcoming season.
He features an elite combination of puck skill and ability to see the ice. His offensive vision might be the skill to be most excited about, as that unique ability typically translates well among differing levels of play.
Demidov put up 60 points this year in the MHL, won the league MVP and led his side to a championship with a playoff-leading 28 points in 17 games.
His agent, Dan Milstein, has a proven track record of getting his clients to come over to the NHL. Reports surrounding Demidov at last week’s pre-draft showcase in Florida were highly positive, as he checked in at 192 pounds and over 6 feet, and reportedly displayed a highly desirable attitude.
Michkov dropped to seventh overall in last year’s entry draft based upon his perceived volatility. It now looks probable that Michkov will prove himself next season with the Flyers, and have a couple of organizations kicking themselves for passing on him.
Teams picking in the top few selections are not likely to be competitive this season or next, nor will they expect to be. They could benefit by a later arrival from a player like Demidov, as it would then help them collect another top pick next year. A later arrival also delays when a skater’s entry-level contract would begin, delaying the time when the player would carry a significant cap hit.
Michkov is widely considered the second-best prospect from the 2023 draft already. It might not be long until Demidov is looked at the same way, and it’s interesting to see a similar story being told just one year later.
At No. 2 overall, Davidson has a tough decision, and it will be hard to critique him one way or the other. Levshunov is the slightly safer pick, but Demidov has a higher ceiling.
Drafting by position at the top of the draft is foolish, as having the best player available is generally most beneficial. You could argue the Blackhawks blue line is just as far along as the offensive core due to the high potential of Alex Vlasic and Kevin Korchinski. If Hawks brass feels confident Demidov is the best player available, he should be selected.
Whether or not that is the way things actually will go is hard to predict. Demidov is priced at +210 to go second at FanDuel, and that could be a worthy shout.
What looks slightly more appealing is backing the Anaheim Ducks to take Demidov at third overall at a long number of +550. It’s a fairly common contention that Anaheim is leaning toward grabbing a high-caliber defensemen. Still, Demidov’s stock has clearly risen based off of last weeks Draft Showcase, and it seems the risks associated with Demidov are decreasing.
It is also interesting to consider that Ducks GM Pat Verbeek surprised oddsmakers by selecting Leo Carlsson second overall last season, as even on draft day Carlsson was still a heavy underdog to be selected second.
Best bet: Ivan Demidov to go third overall (+550 at FanDuel)
