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The Montreal Canadiens won’t have to wait long for their top prospect to join the NHL ranks. According to his now-former team, the KHL’s SKA St. Petersburg, Ivan Demidov will join the Canadiens for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
In the announcement, SKA said:
“Thank you, Ivan.
SKA and Ivan Demidov have taken a joint decision which will see the forward join the Montreal Canadiens this season. His KHL rights will remain with SKA. He will return to Saint Petersburg if he doesn’t gain a foothold in the NHL.”
Montreal selected Demidov as the fifth overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. He has drawn significant comparisons to Philadelphia Flyers rookie Matvei Michkov, as both players possess an exceptional blend of speed and offensive talent. On draft day, concerns arose regarding Michkov’s contractual commitments in the KHL, and similar worries existed about Demidov’s obligations with SKA.
However, these concerns are now a thing of the past for the Canadiens. Demidov has just completed his first full season in the KHL, during which he scored 19 goals and tallied 49 points in 65 games, achieving a +14 rating. This season marked the highest scoring for a KHL player under 20, with the closest competitor being Carolina Hurricanes’ prospect Nikita Artamonov, who recorded 22 goals and 39 points in 63 games.
Depending on the timing of his arrival, Demidov will have access to meaningful hockey with Montreal. Before their important matchup tonight against the Detroit Red Wings, the Canadiens own the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with a six-point gap on Detroit.
With the Canadiens unlikely to separate their top forward unit, Demidov is expected to join the second line alongside Alexander Newhook and Patrik Laine. Demidov could create a dangerous duo next to Laine, who’s recorded 20 goals and 47 games this season, 15 of which came on the powerplay.
There may be some concerns regarding Demidov’s performance in the defensive zone. Similarly to Michkov, who owns a well below-average 85.2% on-ice save percentage at even strength this season, Demidov doesn’t focus much on his defensive game, which could hurt Montreal in the playoffs.
The Canadiens don’t have a particularly challenging defensive unit to play against, either. The team has given up the 12th most shots in the league this year, and a 23rd-ranked save percentage blocking those shots. Montreal is entering a territory where they could overwhelm teams with offensive pressure, but defensive prowess is typically customary in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Regardless, the Canadiens will be enthusiastic about the recent development. Montreal has drafted well after embarking on their rebuild after finishing as runner-up in the Stanley Cup Final in 2021 and will soon begin reaping the rewards of their moves.
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