Ivan Demidov Is Working To Have Legs Like Martin St. Louis

3 min read
Sep 5, 2024, 9:09 AM
Ivan Demidov is selected by the Montreal Canadiens with the fifth overall pick during the first round of the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft

Ivan Demidov is selected by the Montreal Canadiens with the fifth overall pick during the first round of the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

 

In mid-June, few Montreal fans knew anything about Ivan Demidov. After the Canadiens selected him as the fifth overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft in late June, the details of the 18-year-old forward's life and character became one of the hottest topics in the Quebec hockey world.

And here's another fact about the Canadiens' most anticipated prospect: he wouldn't mind being similar to the Canadiens' head coach, Martin St. Louis, in one way.

"We met St. Louis at the draft and had a chance to talk briefly," Demidov told RG.org.

When asked if he would like to build legs as muscular as St. Louis, Demidov smiled and replied, "I'm working on it right now."

Vincent Lecavalier, who played 17 seasons in the NHL between 1998 and 2016, is currently a special advisor of hockey operations for the Canadiens. Recently, he said on Demidov: "I think he's the smartest player in the draft. He just makes plays that you don't expect. He makes everybody better."

"I'm very pleased to hear such words," Demidov said. "Lecavalier and St. Louis are the players who were the driving force of the Tampa Bay Lightning and the entire league in the 2000s. And now it's incredibly pleasant to hear such praise from them."

RG.org asked Demidov to put together a symbolic NHL team of the players he enjoys watching the most.

"I can't name the goalie, I hardly follow them," Demidov replied. "Among the defensemen, I like Lane Hudson from Montreal. Last year, he played for the university with [the first overall pick by the Sharks in the 2024 NHL entry draft] Macklin Celebrini. I am interested in watching him this season. Also, among the defensemen, I can’t help but mention Cale Makar. He is dominating the league. Among the forwards, I like Connor McDavid. I had the opportunity to watch him play in the Stanley Cup Final. His level is incredibly high. I also like to watch Nikita Kucherov’s thought process. And I am also very impressed by the game of Jack Hughes from the Devils."

Photos of Demidov with his girlfriend, which he posted on Instagram, have been widely circulated on the Internet. What was the player’s motivation for posting them?

"These are just beautiful photos, so I decided to share them," Demidov said. "And in general, in our world, it is crucial to develop your social media presence. This is one of the key components of your brand if you want to get advertising contracts. In this regard, one of my favorite athletes is Cristiano Ronaldo. He is a marketing idol. On August 21, he created his YouTube channel, and in the first week, he gained 50 million subscribers. It was impressive!"

 

Sergey has been in sports journalism since 2007 as a reporter, editor, and manager. He has covered the Olympic Games, soccer World Cups, the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, the European championships, the Stanley Cup Finals, IOC events, and many others. Sergey interviewed the sport's greatest athletes, coaches, and executives. Since 2016, he has been an Independent Senior Editor of NHL.com/ru.

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In 2013, Paruyr stepped into the sports and betting industry as the founder and president of Bookmaker Rating. This online mass media platform, which he led until 2020, focused on providing in-depth analysis and insights in sports betting, earning a reputation for its quality content. 

Continuing his innovative approach in 2022, Paruyr co-founded Azuro, a decentralized betting protocol. This venture showcases his dedication to integrating advanced technology in the evolving landscape of sports betting. Through these diverse experiences, Paruyr has continuously influenced and shaped the betting industry, driving new trends and setting high standards.

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Sol has over 20 years of experience in writing for diverse industries including sports, gambling, regulation, technology, and startups. As the Editor-in-Chief at RG, Sol brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role, focusing on delivering transparent, evidence-based content grounded in thorough research. Sol's mission is to empower readers to enjoy gambling responsibly and make informed decisions, enhancing their overall experience through insightful and engaging content. Under Sol's leadership, RG prioritizes the highest standards of integrity and reliability, ensuring that all information provided is accurate and trustworthy. Sol's dedication to transparency and research-based writing helps create a responsible gambling environment where readers can truly benefit from the content. This commitment to excellence has positioned RG as a leading source of information in the gambling industry.

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Problem Gambling Expert

Cristina used to work as a Psychology Assistant in the Bizkaia Pathological and Risky Gamblers Association. She was also part of a research team in Deusto University, specializing in pathological gambling area. While working there, she managed to develop her own project 

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Nick has been fascinated with sports since he was first taken to a Toronto Maple Leafs game back in 1998, and he's written about them professionally since 2014.

Nick has covered baseball and hockey for outlets like The Athletic, Sportsnet, and Yahoo Sports, and his sports betting expertise has grown since its legalization in Ontario in 2022. 

Between 2022 and 2023 he worked for a betting startup called NorthStar Bets, and in 2024 he contributed to Oddspedia before joining the Responsible Gambler team.

Sergey Demidov
Sergey Demidov
Head of News Department

Sergey has been in sports journalism since 2007 as a reporter, editor, and manager. He has covered the Olympic Games, soccer World Cups, the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, the European championships, the Stanley Cup Finals, IOC events, and many others. Sergey interviewed the sport's greatest athletes, coaches, and executives. Since 2016, he has been an Independent Senior Editor of NHL.com/ru.

Anna Kravtcova
Anna Kravtcova
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Daria Tuboltseva
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Daria went to St. Petersburg State University and earned a bachelor of international journalism. Working as a sports journalist from 2014, from 2016 as a hockey journalist. Covered 5 World Championships, 2022 Winter Olympics, 2020 World Juniors, 6 Gagarin Cup Finals. 

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Marco D'Amico
Marco D'Amico
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Marco D'Amico is a beat reporter covering the Montreal Canadiens and the NHL Draft, while also being a recurring guest on TSN690 and BPM Sports. His work primarily on NHL CBA breakdowns and prospect analysis, all while covering the Montreal Canadiens on a day-to-day basis.

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