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Canadiens' Ivan Demidov Target of Complicated Scheme to Have Him Return to Russia

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Daniel Lucente | Last updated Jun 6, 2025 9:59 AM ET

The situation surrounding Ivan Demidov, the Canadiens, and his Russian team, SKA, is getting a lot more complicated, and now they may want him back overseas.

Three-time Stanley Cup champion and Hall of Famer Igor Larionov made headlines in his first press conference as SKA St. Petersburg head coach by announcing that he would welcome Ivan Demidov back from the Montreal Canadiens for another season with the KHL.

'I'd like to speak with the Montreal management - I know some of them quite well,' Larionov said on Friday. 'General manager Kent Hughes used to be a player agent, and we know each other. Martin Lapointe, who's now their director of player personnel and scouting, was my teammate in Detroit.
My goal is to bring Demidov back to SKA on loan for one year and then let him return to Montreal in time for the NHL playoffs. That would be phenomenal.

I understand that Demidov is a real gem for the Canadiens, but sometimes you need to take a step back to move three steps forward. I'd really love the chance to work with this kid. I don't know if it will happen, but I will be asking for him to be loaned back for one year.'

As of now, there is no indication the Canadiens will send him back to Russia

That possibility, however, is not on the table with either Demidov or the Canadiens, according to 'RG' sources.

The 19-year-old winger signed a three-year entry-level deal with Montreal in April. He's already played in two NHL regular-season games, recording a goal and an assist, and five playoff games against Washington, where he had two assists.

SKA underwent a total restructuring recently. After collapsing in the first round of the KHL playoffs and a seventh-place Western Conference finish, head coach Roman Rotenberg was let go.

Larionov, after stepping away from Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod and supposedly in search of an NHL job, accepted the offer from new SKA board chairman Vitaly Markelov.

SKA remains a dynastic pipeline to the NHL. In the last few years, the team has produced superstars like Artemi Panarin, Igor Shesterkin, and Vladimir Tarasenko.

This year alone, four players, Demidov, Alexander Nikishin, Arseniy Gritsyuk, and Zakhar Bardakov, made the transition to North America.

When it comes to Demidov, he is physically prepared for the NHL, but success is not guaranteed. Montreal is a pressure cooker where hockey permeates the culture.

Starting on the first line means huge expectations, and the Canadiens will have to handle the situation delicately in order not to crush the young star.

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

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