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'He doesn’t want to humiliate his teammates' : Evgeny Kuznetsov praises Ivan Demidov’s talent

Originally posted on Dose.ca | Last updated Mar 8, 2025 4:16 PM ET

In a few months, Ivan Demidov is expected to make the leap to North America. For the Canadian, this will likely be the beginning of a new era, as the team’s best hope arrives at a time when the CH seems to be turning the corner.

After years of rebuilding, a change in mentality is to be expected next year. Demidov won’t be the savior right away, but he has the potential to be part of the solution.

Because even if he’s currently in a small slump, he’s still having a great season in the KHL. He’s racking up points and his talent is evident.

Evgeny Kuznetsov, who has been playing with Demidov at SKA since the beginning of the year, is well aware of this… and in an interview with RG Media, the former Capital praised his young teammate’s immense talent:

In training, he tries to be discreet because he doesn’t want to humiliate his teammates. – Evgeny Kuznetsov

“He can turn nothing into something special.” Evgeny Kuznetsov shares high praise for Canadiens prospect Ivan Demidov. Read the full interview! #GoHabsGo https://t.co/mslUqBzJLU

— RG (@TheRGMedia) March 7, 2025

Kuznetsov insists that he sees special talent in Demidov, words that mean a lot coming from a player who is immensely talented himself and has also played with other highly talented players. To see him say that Demidov is one of the most special talents he’s seen, it’s something.

The former Capital also explained that he tries not to mentor Demidov too much because he wants to let him learn on his own. He’s there to help if needed, but he doesn’t want to constantly hover over him.

Because Demidov is, in Kuznetsov’s eyes, an extremely mature young man at heart. And that confirms what colleague Maxime Truman reported a few weeks ago on Stanley25.

Of course, talent is something that stands out and is very exciting. That being said, in a market like Montreal, talent isn’t worth much without the maturity that comes with it… and the good news is that there are good reasons to believe Demidov has that maturity.

Everything can change once he sets foot in town, of course, but at least the winning conditions seem to be in place for now. And it’s no wonder that in Montreal, we’re really, really looking forward to seeing him arrive in town.

In rafale

– He’s impressing this season.

Florian Xhekaj, the marker

A text by @MikaelFilionRDS https://t.co/fJStjOfzZi

— RDS (@RDSca) March 8, 2025

– Mikko Rantanen is training with Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson. That’s quite a trio.

Hintz has 17 points in his last 8 games, Robertson has 14. Now, add Rantanen to the line… https://t.co/YbFkBK2BHy

— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) March 8, 2025

– Nathan MacKinnon doesn’t think a team can win with young players. Reminder: Cale Makar was 23, Mikko Rantanen was 25, and MacKinnon was 26 when the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup.

«I really don’t think you can win with young players. I think it’s awesome those two guys have been on deep runs. They’ve been around a long time. I’m really, really excited.»

Nathan MacKinnon on the Avs adding Brock Nelson & Charlie Coyle pic.twitter.com/q21bwbRvpu

— DNVR Avalanche (@DNVR_Avalanche) March 8, 2025

– To watch.

Among the stories to follow until the end of the season with the Rocket, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard should dethrone Alex Belzile from the top of the team’s all-time scorers. Belzile has 130 points in his career, while RHP has 125.

— Anthony Marcotte (@anthonymarcotte) March 8, 2025

– What to expect from the Cubs this season?