Ivan Demidov On The Cusp Of Canadiens Greatness
The perfect word to describe Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov is excitement.
While a red carpet wasn’t rolled out ahead of his debut at the Bell Centre at the end of the 2024-25 season, the energy throughout the stadium, in anticipation of the franchise’s next potential star, was electric.
(Editor’s Note: This is an article written by special contributor Tyler Major- McNicol. You can follow him on X by clicking here.)
His first game in the NHL lived up to the hype, starting with an assist on an Alex Newhook tally that put his elite skill set on display. His goal showed off his quick hands as he corralled a weird bounce off the boards from a Mike Matheson pass that started in the defensive zone, ending with a backhand beauty that nearly blasted the roof off the arena.
Demidov also got his first taste of National Hockey League playoff action, though he lost to his Russian idol, Alexander Ovechkin, as the Washington Capitals beat the wheels off the Canadiens.
It was a good reminder of the rigours involved in NHL playoff hockey, not to mention the perfect example of what it takes to compete in the harshest of sports environments.
He certainly gained valuable experience, which, in turn, prepared him for his rookie season. Though he was runner-up for the Calder Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL’s top rookie, his debut season delivered an abundance of exhilaration for fans and management alike.
The Next Step For Ivan Demidov
With a 62-point rookie season in the bank, Demidov has already set the bar rather high.
How he will follow it up remains to be seen, but after watching Lane Hutson post a 66-point rookie season and then a 78-point sophomore campaign, Demidov has smartly stapled himself to the Habs phenom.
The pair have been inseparable, and they are one and the same in their pursuit to make sure the ice at the Canadiens practice facility never sits empty.
Lane Hutson & Ivan Demidov on the ice in Brossard today pic.twitter.com/dUOTqT71yP
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) July 1, 2026
Of course, this doesn’t guarantee Demidov will avoid the infamous sophomore slump, as Hutson did last season, but given his dedication to the cause, it seems to be the likeliest scenario. By absorbing as much information as possible from Hutson, one of the best young players in the league, Demidov will have all the tools necessary to establish himself among the NHL’s elite.
To do so, he’ll look to join captain Nick Suzuki as one of the few members of the Canadiens to reach the 100-point mark. Only Suzuki, Mats Naslund, Guy Lafleur, Peter Mahovlich, and Steve Shutt have accomplished the Herculean task in the glorious history of the franchise.
Making matters even more interesting, comparisons to Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov and Minnesota Wild sensation Kirill Kaprizov have been used with regularity. Demidov’s game-breaking plays, affinity for skating the puck into the offensive zone, and ability to make the opposition look silly have become a common occurrence.
The way Demidov progressed throughout his first year in the NHL showed steady improvements and the potential to put himself in the conversation of active NHL players who scored 100 points as 20-year-olds—a list that includes Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, and Connor McDavid.
But even if he doesn’t hit the 100-point mark just two years into his NHL career, it’s quite apparent that Ivan Demidov is on the cusp of something great, the exact type of player needed to turn the Canadiens into legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.
All Ivan Demidov and Montreal Canadiens statistics via Elite Prospects.
