Corey Pronman details what to expect from the Montreal Canadiens’ new prospects and how they fit into the farm system.
2024 Draft Grade: A-
Montreal’s grade is mostly about what it accomplished on Day 1 of the draft. The Canadiens acquired a potential star scoring winger in Ivan Demidov, and in Michael Hage a highly talented forward in his own right who could be a middle-six forward, or a top six if he truly hits. I had time for some of their Day 2 picks, in particular Aatos Koivu and Logan Sawyer, who I think have a chance to play. Ultimately this draft will likely come down to how good Demidov is. They have two potential star wingers now in him and Juraj Slafkovsky to build around.
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Draft Class
5. Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)
December 10, 2005 | 6′ 0″ | 192 pounds
Tier: NHL All-Star
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: Elite
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Player comparable: Lucas Raymond
Analysis: Demidov has been the clear best player in Russia’s junior league over the last two seasons. He is the most purely skilled player in the draft and is extremely creative in making plays with the puck. He has an excellent motor, attacks the net consistently and competes hard to win pucks. Demidov created scoring chances seemingly every shift this season. While he can run a power play when the game slows down, he makes a lot of plays on the move. He’s a powerful but awkward-looking skater though, who is a bit knock-kneed and reliant on his edge work but gets around OK. He’s not the biggest winger as well so there is some question about how his game will translate to higher levels. I see a potential top-line winger who will score a lot and play a style of game that will appeal himself to coaches.
Thoughts on the pick: In Demidov, Montreal gets the most purely skilled player in the draft. He provides a game-breaking element to their system that they haven’t had before. He has the potential to become a star for them down the line. They were one of the few teams that got their decision maker overseas to get live eyes on him, and obviously were very comfortable with the idea of him. He projects to be a top line/top power play winger alongside budding star Juraj Slafkovsky.
21. Michael Hage, C, Chicago Steel (USHL)
April 14, 2006 | 6′ 1″ | 190 pounds
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Player comparable: Rickard Rakell
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Analysis: Hage was one of the top forwards in the USHL this season. Hage is a good-sized center who skates well and has a ton of skill. The high-end one-on-one plays he can make at full flight are clear NHL quality and he has the ability to break open a shift. Hage’s playmaking and finishing are good enough, with a shot that can score from the faceoff dots, but neither match the caliber of his feet and hands. Hage has the potential to break open a game, but I do find his game to be inconsistent and too perimeter at times. He projects as a middle-six wing with a chance to be more.
Thoughts on the pick: Hage was one of the best players in the USHL this season. He was a tough evaluation this year because he missed most of his 16-year-old season and had to deal with the sudden passing of his father. He was inconsistent at times this year, but he was on fire in the second half. Some scouts question his compete, and some wonder if it was just a kid dealing with a difficult situation. He has clear NHL talent, and if he hits he could be a top-six forward.
70. Aatos Koivu, C, TPS U20 (U20 SM-sarja)
June 22, 2006 | 6′ 0″ | 170 pounds
Tier: Has a chance to play games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: High-end
Analysis: Aatos Koivu, the son of former NHLer Saku Koivu, saw his stock rise all season as did his responsibility with Finland’s U18 team. He was cut from the Hlinka Gretzky team in the summer and by the spring he was one of their most important forwards. Koivu is a strong skater with a stride that will be able to move at an NHL pace. He has good hands, and uses his skill to attack at the net. He’s not overly physical, but like his father, he’s a strong competitor who plays in traffic. Koivu has an excellent shot. When he winds up his one-timer he can beat goalies from distance. His playmaking is fine, he can make the odd seam pass but I don’t see a ton of natural instincts with the puck.
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78. Logan Sawyer, LW, Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
May 6, 2006 | 6′ 1″ | 174 pounds
Tier: Has a chance to play games
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Sawyer was a top player in the AJHL prior to Brooks joining the BCHL. He also helped lead Canada West to winning the World Jr. A Challenge. He has above-average puck skills and vision and makes a lot of tough plays. He has a good shot and can finish chances from midrange. Scouts often expressed concerns about his skating. He’s a bit knock-kneed, but when I’ve watched I saw a player often pulling away from pressure and showing decent speed in transition to create chances. He has the tools and scoring touch to potentially be a bottom-six wing although his off-the-puck game isn’t ideal for that type of role.
102. Owen Protz, LHD, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
February 7, 2006 | 6′ 0″ | 201 pounds
Analysis: Protz is an excellent skater, and outside the top tier of players in the draft, he ranks right toward the top of the charts in skating among the mid-tier prospects. He has some physicality in him, too. The issue with Protz is his puck play. He lacks hockey sense and touch with the puck on his stick and whether he can move pucks versus men is an open question.
130. Tyler Thorpe, RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
August 11, 2005 | 6′ 5″ | 216 pounds
Tier: Has a chance to play games
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Thorpe progressed well in his second WHL season after not making much of a dent as a rookie and first-year draft eligible. Thorpe is a big winger who plays hard. He has a good shot from range, and displays strong instances of puck skills. His hockey sense is a major question, however, and his skating is just OK as well although he moves well for a big man.
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134. Mikus Vecvanags, G, HS Riga 17 (U18 SM-sarja)
January 17, 2006 | 6′ 3″ | 159 pounds
166. Ben Merrill, C, St. Sebastian’s School (USHS-Prep)
November 4, 2005 | 6′ 4″ | 194 pounds
Analysis: Merrill is a skilled forward who can score goals. His skating isn’t that great and could be the main thing that holds him back versus better players.
210. Makar Khanin, LW, Dynamo St. Petersburg (VHL)
March 17, 2005 | 6′ 0″ | 161 pounds
224. Rasmus Bergqvist, LHD, Skellefteå (SWEDEN-JR.)
June 5, 2005 | 6’2″ | 181 pounds
Beat writer’s analysis
The Canadiens came into the draft needing to boost their offensive talent, and they did. Adding Ivan Demidov and Michael Hage in the first round on Friday not only accomplished that, but in Demidov added the game-breaking, elite talent their system sorely lacks, and has lacked for a very long time. Hage might project as more of a winger in the NHL, but general manager Kent Hughes said he sees him as a future top-six forward, whether that’s on the wing or down the middle.
Drafting Aatos Koivu in the third round obviously resonates for a franchise where his father Saku was captain for 10 years, but as a player, the Canadiens feel they added a responsible, two-way future center with a plus shot. The bloodlines help, but scouting director Martin Lapointe insisted once he takes the time to get physically stronger, Koivu will be someone we will see in Montreal.
“We saw Aatos play a lot this season,” Lapointe said. “He’s responsible on the ice, very dedicated to the game of hockey. For sure, his dad played, so the bloodlines, Saku’s talent is reflected in Aatos’ talent. We like his responsibility on the ice and he’s a kid who will only improve.”
Without a second-round pick, Koivu really represented the player with the most NHL potential the Canadiens took on Day 2, though, Lapointe spoke highly of Logan Sawyer.
“Logan has good skills, a good head for hockey who brings multiple dimensions,” he said. “He’s an offensive player with good hockey sense, handles the puck well … the upside on Logan Sawyer is very high.” — Arpon Basu
(Photo of Ivan Demidov: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
