After a hiatus due to the holidays and studies, the European Prospect Report returns with a summary of the prospects’ performances in January, rather than the usual one week report. The EPR should be back to its normal schedule from next week.
Ivan Demidov
SKA Saint Petersburg, KHL, Russia
In the nine games that Demidov has played so far in January he has received anything from 15 to 23 minutes of ice time. While he is getting a few more neutral- and offensive-zone starts, he has been used in different defensive-zone situations as well. What strikes me in the defensive zone is that he uses the same strengths that make him formidable in the offensive zone. He reads the game well and cuts off passing lanes, doesn’t overcommit, and, most importantly of all, is participating fully in the work, not trying to earn a breakaway and an easy goal, which has been a common theme for many KHL prospects.
Absolute FILTH from Ivan Demidov. #gohabsgo
— Matt Drake (@drakemt.bsky.social) January 21, 2025 at 1:33 PM
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It is still in the offensive part of the ice that Demidov excels. The highlights are there in almost every game, but what shouldn’t be missed are two things; his zone entries and his forecheck. Both of these stand out in a positive way. He uses his skills for individual entries but also to find his teammates with speed and space, often drawing in an extra player to then release the pass at the last moment, thereby giving his team the best opportunity to generate a scoring chance. Second, while still not being the biggest player on the team, he uses his body and skating to drive a relentless forecheck, again not trying to just do the easy work but working hard in order to be a complete player.
Not a goal, but another taste of what Canadiens fans have to look forward to… IVAN DEMIDOV… #habs #gohabsgo #demidov
— Recliner Sports ✊🏽🍊 (@reclinersports.ca) January 28, 2025 at 1:39 PM
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If we were to look for something negative, we’d have to dig deep to say the consistency is lacking a bit, something that is common for young players coming up a level or two. Demidov’s 14 points (9G, 5A) came in six games. He had an outstanding game against the best team, Lokomotiv, but was held off the scoreboard against teams closer SKA in level such as Dynamo Moscow, Spartak Moscow, and Salavat Yulaev, even when getting power-play time and a lot of minutes.
Bogdan Konyushkov
Torpedo Nihzny Novgorod, KHL, Russia
Konyushkov’s nine games were dominated by two things; an astronomical time on ice and stable defence. A few people might look at the stats and say that he is -6 over the nine games, however a goal against per game is not much when considering he is one of Torpedo’s most used defencemen and the fact that Torpedo only scored 19 goals and let in 29 over the time period before Tuesday’s game.
The good thing is that Konyushkov is playing a lot. In a recent game against Spartak he was over 30 minutes of ice time. Normally he is on the ice for about 23 minutes a game, and that includes both power play time and the penalty kill.
I have not been able to watch Konyushkov for a while, therefore I won’t express any thoughts on his play at this time.
Yevgeni Volokhin
HC Sochi, KHL
The goalie who went to a new team during October has gotten to play in 16 games, but Sochi has only managed one win for Volokhin. His first win in the KHL came against Amur on January 9 when Sochi won 5-2.
In January, Volokhin has gotten the chance to play more often than not, even if he came on in relief against Salavat Yulaev. The important thing is for Volokhin, and for Montreal fans to remember, is that he is getting games under his belt. It is a huge step, especially for a goalie, to go from the MHL to the KHL and the important thing is to see what he learns from this experience and how he uses the knowledge in his development for next season.
Makar Khanin
Dynamo Moscow, KHL / Dynamo Saint Petersburg, VHL / MHK Dynamo Moskva, MHL
Khanin got close to seven minutes in the KHL this month as Dynamo Moscow won 2-0 away to Sochi. He has played five games in the MHL and has five points (2G, 3A). For a player like him I would have expected a bit more. It could be the fact that he has been with Dynamo more and hasn’t gelled with the MHL team yet.
The one thing that stands out is the ‘lack’ of goals. He has a good shot and I would have expected him to do more damage with it at the Junior level.
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Aatos Koivu
TPS Turku, Liiga/ TPS U20, Finland
Koivu was called up to TPS’s Liiga team in the middle of December and has stayed up since. He has had around 10 minutes of ice time in most of the games, but hasn’t recorded any points.
He wasn’t included in the Finnish team playing in the U18 tournament in Sweden during the international break in February.
Oliver Kapanen
Timrå IK, SHL, Sweden
Kapanen is centring Timrå’s top line and producing at a just below a point-per-game pace at the moment, with 21 points in 22 games. As he missed almost 20 games while in the NHL, it would have been interesting to know what he could have done over the full season. Only two of his 10 goals have come on the power play. Over eight games in January, Kapanen has scored five goals and assisted four times. He has left the ice without a point only once. Mr. Consistency is Kapanen’s name now.
#Habs Oliver Kapanen with his second goal of the game, we are on a hattrick watch. 10th goal of the season. #GoHabsGo
— Patrik Bexell (@zebhabs.bsky.social) January 25, 2025 at 1:55 PM
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Playing every situation of the game will benefit him when he goes back to Montreal next year. Right now, with Timrå in third place of the SHL table, he is more looking toward a deep run into the playoffs and challenging for the Le Mat Trophy.
Filip Eriksson
Växjö Lakers, SHL, Sweden
Eriksson and Växjö have struggled over the whole season. Scoring for the team has been slow and steady at the best of times. Eriksson has been moved around the lines and hasn’t found chemistry anywhere.
He fights it out, and I am expecting a better year next season for him when he is adapted to the league, and will have a better chance to earn a higher spot on the roster as both the coach and some of the players will leave Växjö.
Rasmus Bergqvist
Skellefteå AIK, SHL, Sweden
After a good World Juniors where Bergqvist showed his skill set to the North American public, Bergqvist has returned to Skellefteå and played with the U20 team. In the two games played since his return he has been on the first pairing and played with the physical edge that we have come to expect. He wasn’t part of this weekend’s games as Skellefteå was on a road trip to the south of Sweden, but that is sort of expected as he missed a bit of school during his time in North America.
Vinzenz Rohrer
Zürich Lions, National League, Switzerland
Often a forgotten prospect even if Marc Crawford has called him one of the most coachable players he has come across in a telephone conversation with Eyes On The Prize in October, 2023, Rohrer is having another solid year in the National League. So far, he has produced 21 points (12G, 9A) in 38 games in NL. However, Zürich has also had success in the Champions Hockey League and will face the second-place SHL team, Färjestad, in the final on February 18. Rohrer has seven points (4G, 3A) in 12 games of the tournament so far.
Don't mess with Vinzenz Rohrer on a fast break. The #Habs prospect scored in the second semifinal of the Champions Hockey League. Zürich will face Färjestad in the final.
— Patrik Bexell (@zebhabs.bsky.social) January 22, 2025 at 4:38 PM
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He has scored three goals and two assists though 10 games in the NL this month. The expectation is that he will join the Laval Rocket after a deep playoff run and potentially bring two trophies in his luggage as Zürich undoubtedly will challenge for not only the CHL title but also for the Swiss Championship.
