Canadiens’ Demidov and Hutson Will Transform Team’s Offense

However, he put up 96 points in 87 games and added eight points in five games at his second U18 WJC. Yet, somehow, he dropped to 62^nd overall, where Montreal selected him in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Why? Because of his size. Sam Cosentino noted in his draft year that if “Hutson was 5-foot-10 today, he would be projected to go inside the top 15 picks of this draft.” But Hughes used his fourth selection in that draft to select the defender, and today, Hutson has become an integral piece of the team’s future. 

In his rookie season, Hutson is already proving to be an elite power-play (PP) weapon thanks to his jaw-dropping footwork along the blue line, which he uses to create space and open multiple shooting or passing options. He oozes confidence while in control of the puck, directing play with his movement and shot selection. He is also effective at five-on-five as he is now sitting second on the team in average time on ice with 22:23, behind only Mike Matheson, who was shifted down to the second PP unit due to Hutson’s offensive skills.  

In an RG.org exclusive interview, Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov, having played against Hutson, likens him to Quinn Hughes, stating that “he’s just like Quinn Hughes, but just a slight notch under his level right now.” This is high praise coming from a rival and fellow defenseman. His opinion is not a surprise as Hutson leads all NHL rookies in assists (45), points (49), PP points (21), average ice time (22:23), takeaways (42) and blocked shots (91) in 63 games. With the season already 75 per cent completed, he is considered a front runner by many to be 2025 Calder Trophy winner as the NHL’s best rookie. Even if he doesn’t win the honour, he is proving himself to be a cornerstone of the team’s future, and he is soon to have company. 

Back-to-Back Calder Trophy Nominees? 

Ivan Demidov is a rookie, but in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). The SKA St Petersburg forward is setting rookie and under-20 records in the Russian league and doing it all while averaging only 13:21 of ice time per game this season. After years of rebuilding, a change in mentality is expected next season. Demidov is not expected to become a superstar right away, but he has the potential to make a significant contribution that will allow the club to take that next step. Because of that, there will be a lot of pressure on the young man, but also because he is someone that has been said to be potentially the most exciting player since Guy Lafleur. 

Demidov is expected to make the leap to North America immediately at the end of this KHL season. His current teammate, Evgeny Kuznetsov, who has been playing with Demidov at SKA since the beginning of the season, is well aware of this and, in an interview with RG Media, the former Washington Capitals star and 2018 Stanley Cup champion, praised his young teammate. 

Kuznetsov is also providing Demidov with something essential in his development: a mentor. He allows Demidov to grow naturally as a player while giving him the benefits of his own experience. Kuznetsov recalled how, as a young player, he didn’t always appreciate being lectured by older teammates as he stated: “We don’t talk much about hockey; we mostly discuss everyday life here and in America. We chat and joke around. Maybe I don’t even realize when a question is really important to him, but I always answer everything.” Instead, he believes that allowing Demidov to play freely and develop his own instincts will serve him better in the long run. This aligns itself with the approach Canadiens’ head coach, Martin St. Louis has taken with the youth in Montreal and gives hope for an easier transition. 

Small Moves, Big Rewards for Canadiens

Looking to the future, Canadiens’ fans have a lot to look forward to from these two skilled players. Yet, management has to provide them the support they require to continue to blossom. In Hutson’s case, he will need to have a veteran defenseman he can look up to and be mentored by. Will that be Matheson? It would fit as they both have similar styles, and the Montreal native has more than a decade of NHL experience he can share with the young American.  

Adding someone to mentor Demidov would make a significant impact on the club’s long-term success without paying a major price. Klim Kostin was a first-round selection with high expectations. He is now a bottom-six power forward who excels when playing a puck-possession cycle game. He can win one-on-one battles along the boards and punish defenders physically on the forecheck. Adding a 6-foot-3 and 212-pound left-handed forward to the lineup would fill a need for Montreal’s fourth line.

More importantly, it would give Demidov a countryman to look to for support during his transition to North America. Trading for the rights of soon-to-be 26-year-old San Jose Sharks pending restricted free agent, who is coming off of a two-year contract with $2 million average annual value, would be an inexpensive way to add size and depth at forward for this season. It would also fill a linguistic and cultural gap for Demidov, who will need as much support as possible, especially given the hype surrounding him and the pressure that will be on him to perform immediately. 

No rebuild is done overnight, and Montreal’s is no exception. Three years into the experiment, expectations are rising, and next season, they will only be higher, especially for the team’s top rookie and its top prospect. The more support that’s provided to both Hutson and Demidov, the easier the path will be as they face their challenges, especially considering they will be key to any offensive explosion the club hopes to see next season.