2026 Canadiens Top 25 Under 25: #2 Ivan Demidov

Introduction

Ivan Demidov certainly knew how to make an introduction. Not even a week after touching down in Montreal in the most anticipated athletic air arrival in Canada since Robert Herjavec, Demidov registered his first NHL point, followed by his first NHL goal, within not even a period of his first NHL game. For 2023-24, everything after that was gravy.

The real questions would be asked in 2025-26. Could Demidov handle the day-to-day rigours of the NHL — the pace, the schedule, the rhythm, and the grind? Could he handle NHL opposition day in and day out? After getting his feet wet, could Montreal’s latest wunderkind survive and thrive in the deep end?

Nineteen goals and 62 points later, questions asked, questions answered.

While not without its growing pains, Demidov’s rookie season was just about everything anyone could have hoped for. The Russian winger rapidly forged a chemistry with fellow rookie Oliver Kapanen and forced his way onto the top power-play unit. Nine points in the first 10 games became 15 in 20, 35 in 42, 48 in 60, and finally 62 in 82.

It was the highest total for a rookie in the NHL last season. It stands as the third-highest single-season point total for a Canadiens rookie this millennium. It was a Calder Trophy-worthy season in just about any other year. But sometimes, a rookie defenceman simply steals the show and runs away with the award. No one will begrudge Demidov for placing second behind Matthew Schaefer.

Voting

Eight of nine panel members placed Demidov second, with the other putting the product of the SKA system in third.

Fifty-seven percent of the community vote had Demidov in second place. One voter placed him fourth, and one had him seventh.

Top 25 Under 25 History

After topping the list last season, Demidov drops one position in his third year of eligibility.

History of #2

Strengths

When watching him play, the first thing that strikes you about Demidov is his ability to create. It’s a rare occasion where one can predict where the Russian forward will go once he seizes the puck, whether he’s scything through a neutral-zone trap or finding the open man in the offensive zone.

Two things drive Demidov’s creativity. The first is his extraordinary offensive hockey sense and anticipation, while the second is his immense skill. He has hands that can negotiate most situations, a shot that’s dangerous from almost anywhere in the offensive zone, and skating (despite what some have said) that give him the agility to go where he wants to.

We saw an early example of not just his hands, but his poise under pressure in October against the Seattle Kraken:

We saw his extraordinary vision and ability to orchestrate the play in November against the Ottawa Senators:

We saw what his shot can do in December against the Edmonton Oilers:

And we saw his passing on display in January against the Dallas Stars:

Eighty-four regular-season games into his NHL career, Demidov has already shown that he can assert himself as an offensive conductor, with a combination of skill, smarts, and style arguably not seen since Alexei Kovalev.

Weaknesses

That is, when he decides to take the bull by the horns.

Perhaps it’s the natural effect of being a rookie, perhaps it’s a knock-on from his relatively cautious deployment by the coaching staff (Demidov sat 11th among forwards in terms of five-on-five ice time), or perhaps it’s Demidov playing at a level commensurate with what his linemates can handle, but he had a tendency to defer to other players on the ice more often than he should have, often passing when a shot would have been the better option. To put things in reference, Demidov’s 11 shot attempts per 60 minutes at five-on-five was 36% lower than Cole Caufield’s team-leading 17.

Demidov’s defensive game, while decent, is also an area for improvement. The youngster certainly shows no lack of effort in his own zone or on the backcheck, but he is generally out of his element below the hash marks — more reactive than proactive.

Projection

Ivan Demidov was everything that the Canadiens hoped for and more during his rookie NHL season. The question now is how far he can go, and how quickly he can do it. It is not out of the question that Demidov can become Montreal’s top offensive threat within three years — yes, more dangerous than even the 100-point centre or 50-goal winger. Under contract until 2035, there is a distinct possibility that his $9.15 million AAV turns into the NHL’s best-value deal sooner rather than later.

Well, no. Not best. Maybe second-best….