Demidov emerged victorious in Russia’s top talents battle. How much better is he than Michkov!

In the NHL match between Montreal and Philadelphia, the attention of Russian fans was primarily focused on the showdown between Ivan Demidov and Matvei Michkov. However, a full-blown battle did not materialize, as Demidov clearly emerged as the winner, leaving Michkov struggling. The duel between these two talented Russian hockey players generated significant interest among fans, especially since Michkov and Demidov both entered the league on similar paths. Ivan was already being touted as the frontrunner in the rookie race before the current season, even though he faced strong competition. In their first 12 games of the regular season, both players showed nearly identical stats: Michkov with 4 goals and 5 assists, while Demidov had 3 goals and 7 assists.