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Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes Makes Bold Statement on Star Rookie Ivan Demidov

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Tom Banks | Last updated Sep 4, 2025 1:26 PM ET

Ivan Demidov came to Montreal last season and received a superstar reception, and GM Kent Hughes has revealed he believes Demidov can be just that.

The Montreal Canadiens are a team full of young, exciting talent, but after emerging late in the 2024/25 season, there's none that fans are more excited about than winger Ivan Demidov.

Despite playing in just two regular season games, Demidov scored a goal and two points, and after a record-breaking rookie season in the KHL, the 19-year old is set up for a potential Calder Trophy race in 2025/26.

Canadiens GM Impressed by Demidov's Work Ethic and Passion

Now, General Manager Kent Hughes has addressed Demidov's potential on The Sick Podcast, and unsurprisingly, he's impressed by his work ethic and passion as well as his talent, as he believes Demidov can be a long-term star for this team.

'Always smiling, loves the game, obsessed with getting better I think he's going to be a very, very good player for the Canadiens for a long time.'

Why Montreal Believes Demidov Can Be a Franchise Cornerstone

Not only does Demidov have elite work ethic and a passion for the game, but he's also got the size and the skill to compete at the highest level, with 19 goals in his rookie KHL campaign showing just how good he already is.

He's going to get much better too, and on a line with Kirby Dach and Zach Bolduc/Patrik Laine this season, he'll have the chance to prove that over a long season.

While the expectations are high, anyone that talks about Demidov in Montreal believes he's the type of character that can live up to the immense hype, and with a young team around him, 2025/26 is set to be a very fun year for the Canadiens.

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

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