Ivan Demidov is Joining the Montreal Canadiens

Shortly after the news that SKA had released Demidov from his contract, the Montreal Canadiens announced they had signed him to a three-year entry-level deal.

According to PuckPedia.com, his contract is worth $2.63 million with a salary cap hit of $941,000. He also receives a $97,500 signing bonus and a $525,000 bonus for winning the Conn Smythe Trophy.

In 65 games with SKA St. Petersburg, Demidov registered 49 points (19 goals and 30 assists). In addition, he had 22 minutes. During the team’s run in the KHL Playoffs, he added five points (three goals and two assists).

His 49 points set a new KHL record for the most points in a season by a player who was under the age of 20. The previous record of 42 points was set by current Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov in 2016-17. According to the SKA St. Petersburg, Ivan Demidov became the top scorer of the 2024/2025 season with 54 points (22 goals and 32 assists) in 71 games while setting a league record by being declared the week’s best rookie seven times.

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In addition, he was the youngest player to play a full season with SKA St. Petersburg, leading the team in assists and points and being named the KHL’s Rookie of the Month three times this season: in September, December, and January.

There was much speculation about whether Demidov would actually be made available to the Canadiens this season once his KHL season was over. There was talk of him even staying in the KHL and playing in the lower league. Most in Montreal thought there was a chance he could play this season and figured it would be a similar situation to Matvei Michkov‘s in Philadelphia with the Flyers.

Michkov pushed hard to come to Philadelphia before the start of the 24/25 season. He wanted to start with the Flyers the year he got drafted, but that was not in the cards. But once the first chance came, Michkov was coming to North America and is second in rookie scoring with 58 points behind Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson with 64 points.

The Canadiens were going to push Ivan Demidov and his agent to be released from his contract around June 1st so he could come over, transition before training camp, and play next season for the Canadiens. However, over the course of a couple of days, things changed quickly.

Nobody really knew what, except for Demidov and his agent. But with a stroke of luck, the Canadiens were able to bring their top prize from 2024 over to insert before the playoffs. And he is more than excited to play, as he told Marco D’Amico of RG Media. 

“Most likely, I’ll have time to play in the regular season for Montreal,” Demidov said exclusively to D’Amico of RG Media. “My goal for the rest of the season is to adapt to this new style of hockey as quickly as possible and show what I’m capable of.”

Demidov has honed his game over the KHL. He is looking to bring another offensive bite to this Canadiens roster as they push for the playoffs. The expectation is that the Canadiens will see Ivan Demidov suit up against the Chicago Blackhawks, who had a chance to draft him next Monday.