Habs fans, time to freak out: top prospect Demidov is coming to Montreal

CBC News

· Posted: Apr 08, 2025 3:23 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hr ago

The Montreal Canadiens are getting person to booking a spot successful the NHL playoffs. If they do, it looks similar immoderate superior backup is connected the way.

Ivan Demidov, the team's apical imaginable who is projected to beryllium an interaction subordinate successful the league, conscionable signed an entry-level declaration with the Habs. 

Demidov, who was drafted 5th wide successful the 2024 NHL draft, has played the past 2 seasons with SKA St. Petersburg in the Russian Kontinental Hockey League, known arsenic the KHL.

This past season, Demidov scored 19 goals and 30 assists for a 49-point full successful 65 games — a squad champion astatine lone 19 years old.

Prior to the Canadiens inking Demidov to his archetypal NHL contract, Habs fans were already successful a frenzy connected societal media.

In a bid of messages posted to its relationship connected X, the 19-year-old's KHL squad announced a "joint determination which volition spot the guardant articulation the Montreal Canadiens this season."

"We person nary uncertainty that Ivan volition execute plentifulness of victories and assistance tons of trophies," reads 1 of the messages. "Good luck! Montreal, look aft our guy."

Demidov's accomplishment will electrify a instrumentality basal that is starved for playoff hockey aft missing retired connected the postseason the past 3 years.

Quebec Premier François Legault added to the flood of absorption pouring successful connected societal media with a station connected X that simply read: "WOW!"

The Canadiens presently clasp the last wildcard playoff spot successful the Eastern Conference with a six-point pb implicit Detroit Red Wings. The 2 teams look disconnected Tuesday nighttime astatine the Bell Centre.