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A blockbuster trade offer by the Chicago Blackhawks to the Canadiens for Ivan Demidov was just confirmed
The Chicago Blackhawks made a bold offer to the Columbus Blue Jackets at the 2024 NHL draft which would've seen them acquiring Ivan Demidov with the fourth overall pick, reputable reporters Pierre LeBrun and Elliotte Friedman both confirmed.
Many rumors begin to swirl during the NHL off-season, but this wasn't just another one of the false rumors circling at last years draft.
It was real, and general manager Kyle Davidson of the Chicago Blackhawks was trying to do everything in his power to select Ivan Demidov fourth overall after drafting Artyom Levshunov second overall.
According to another report, the Blackhawks also made an offer to acquire the fifth overall pick from the Montreal Canadiens.
There were two aborted trades at last year's draft that could have changed history. First was Chicago's offer to trade their 2026 first-rounder (unprotected) for the fourth pick, which the Blue Jackets turned down. (They took Cayden Lindstrom.)
Second was the Canadiens' own attempt to acquire Trevor Zegras. I've never received complete clarity on why that deal didn't happen, but I suspect it's because the Canadiens changed their minds when they realized Demidov would fall to five - although they were not offering that particular pick in the Zegras deal. -Elliotte Friedman
Second was the Canadiens' own attempt to acquire Trevor Zegras. I've never received complete clarity on why that deal didn't happen, but I suspect it's because the Canadiens changed their minds when they realized Demidov would fall to five - although they were not offering that particular pick in the Zegras deal. -Elliotte Friedman
The trade offer submitted to general manager Kent Hughes and the Canadiens is now confirmed, as the Blackhawks have landed the third overall pick, the same selection the Canadiens would have received in exchange for their pick last year.
It was a bold move by Kyle Davidson to offer their 2025 unprotected first-round pick for the Habs' faith-overall pick, but it surely would have paid off as this years NHL draft class is much weaker than last year.
Ivan Demidov last year, or Porter Martone, who the Blackhawks are expected to select third overall this summer, is a win-win either way.
| POLL | ||
MAI 11 | 232 ANSWERS A blockbuster trade offer by the Chicago Blackhawks to the Canadiens for Ivan Demidov was just confirmed Do you think the Blackhawks made a mistake not offering more in their trade offer to the Canadiens for Ivan Demidov? | ||
| Yes | 146 | 62.9 % |
| No | 86 | 37.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
