Flyers Daily News
Bailey’s Daily: Flyers Rookie Hype; Demidov Surging in KHL
In Tuesday’s edition of Bailey’s Daily, we’ll be talking the latest Philadelphia Flyers news, NHL news, stories, highlights, and more from the last day.
Flyers News
Egor Zamula came out, Emil Andrae came in.
Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella admitted that Zamula has had a hard time to start the 2024-25 season, sharing that he believes Zamula has also been affected by having to convey thoughts and ideas to Matvei Michkov from the coaching staff and vice versa.
Andrae stepped up and delivered the goods in his season debut against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night, though it wasn’t enough to earn a win and avoid the 4-3 loss.
Rookie goalie Aleksei Kolosov made his NHL debut in that game against the Canadiens, too, making a solid first impression on his teammates and coaches despite some significant challenges due to the language barrier.
Kolosov made 20 saves on 24 shots in his debut performance, and although the Flyers lost, Kolosov became the first Belarusian goalie to ever play in the NHL. That’s a monumental achievement for the talented 22-year-old goaltender.
In case you missed it, the Flyers sent rookie center Jett Luchanko back to the Guelph Storm of the OHL on Saturday, much to the dismay of fans.
Luchanko will be back in no time, but developing his offensive game and getting some action in the 2025 World Junior Championships are the first items on the checklist for the 18-year-old.
NHL News
As for other young prospects, none in the world are generating as much hype as Montreal Canadiens prospect Ivan Demidov, selected fifth overall in the 2024 NHL Draft back in June.
Demidov, 18, has had to battle benchings and sparse playing time early on in the 2024-25 season, mostly due to the nature of the team he’s playing on and the coach in charge of it.
Flyers fans remember better than most how SKA St. Petersburg head coach Roman Rotenberg ran Matvei Michkov amok before sending him on loan to HC Sochi for a second time last year.
Despite averaging only 10:34 of ice time a game, Demidov currently leads the KHL in points per 60 minutes, even in spite of receiving very limited power play time.
The top Canadiens prospect is currently up to five goals, 11 assists, and 16 points in 20 games played so far this season, which speaks to Demidov’s talent level and determination to help his team win games.
Also recall that Demidov and Michkov are friends, and that was so close, yet so far from becoming a reality for Philadelphia at the NHL level.
“Demidov and Michkov are friends, and that was so close, yet so far from becoming a reality for Philadelphia at the NHL level”….who knows if the Flyers end up picking in the top 5 in the 2025 draft, they could swap that pick to the Habs for Demidov.
I guess the question would be…..do you trade the opp. for a Hagens, Misa or Martone for Demidov if that scenario should ever come about..