Whoa! Ivan Demidov Just Joined the Habs!
Okay, seriously, who saw *this* coming? Top NHL prospect Ivan Demidov, the Canadiens' fifth-overall pick in the 2024 draft, just signed a three-year entry-level contract. He's ditching the KHL – the Kontinental Hockey League – and heading straight to Montreal. It's a whirlwind! The whole thing happened so fast; his contract with SKA Saint Petersburg was mutually terminated just hours before he inked the deal with the Habs.
From Russia, With Speed (and a Lot of Points)
Honestly, it's been a wild ride. Everyone expected Demidov to stay in the KHL until next season. But after SKA Saint Petersburg got knocked out of the playoffs, things changed. It was a joint decision between the club and Demidov himself – the 19-year-old Russian forward decided to make the jump. SKA even confirmed it, saying they'll keep his KHL rights, and he can always come back if his NHL stint doesn't quite work out. This kid's a scoring machine, by the way. He led SKA in scoring this year, smashing a KHL record for under-20 players with 49 points (19 goals, 30 assists) in 65 games! And that’s despite not always getting the most ice time.
Montreal's Going Wild!
The Habs are absolutely buzzing! Cole Caufield's practically bouncing off the walls – he's seen Demidov's highlights from Russia, and even *he's* impressed. Josh Anderson is on board too, saying the team's expectations are sky-high. General Manager Kent Hughes hopes to get him in for a game or two before the regular season ends, while Coach Martin St. Louis thinks it's "reasonable" to see him in the lineup right away. This timing couldn't be better; the Canadiens are gunning for a playoff spot for the first time since 2021, and this adds some serious firepower.
A Trip to Russia and Some Raised Eyebrows
Now, remember when GM Hughes visited Demidov in Russia last December? That happened amidst all the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and it caused a bit of a stir. Hughes defended it, saying it was crucial to assess Demidov’s performance in person and talk about his future with the team. He initially played down the chances of Demidov joining this season, but…surprise! This unexpected move is a huge boost to Montreal's young core, which already boasts players like Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. Demidov is going to make this playoff push a whole lot more interesting.
The Sky's the Limit (or is it 100 Points?)
With his crazy talent and that killer KHL record, a lot of people are saying he could be a 100-point player in the NHL. Comparisons to NHL stars like Kirill Kaprizov are already flying around. It's not a question of *if* he’ll make an impact; it's *when* and *how* he’ll seamlessly fit into the team. He could seriously be a game-changer in their playoff run.
