Ivan Demidov (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Ivan Demidov’s timeline to joining the Montreal Canadiens has been a contentious issue for fans across the NHL ever since the Habs selected him 5th overall at the 2024 NHL Draft.
Demidov has had an historic season for SKA St. Petersburg, breaking the U-20 scoring record previously held by Kirill Kaprizov earlier this season. His 19 goals and 49 points rank him first in KHL rookie scoring, while also leading SKA in scoring at the same time.
Despite the historic offensive output, Demidov has had trouble finding consistent playing time this season, averaging a lowly 13:44 minutes per game.
In an effort to play a more “physical style” in the playoffs, head coach Roman Rotenberg announced that Ivan Demidov will miss SKA’s upcoming game against Avtomobilist on March 20 in Yekaterinburg.
It sparked a ton of speculation that the team is once again punishing the 19-year-old for not committing to a new contract with the team, as his current deal with SKA is set to conclude on May 31, 2025.
Demidov has made no effort to hide his desire to honor his agreement and make his way to Montreal next season to join the rebuilding Canadiens. However, there has since been speculation of the Canadiens attempting to pry Demidov out of Russia to potentially join their playoff push.
That speculation is, according to sources close to the situation, just that: speculation.
Contractual Barriers Prevent Early Move
Demidov's current KHL contract runs until May 31, effectively preventing a transition to the Canadiens during the 2024-25 NHL season. There has been growing anticipation about when he will finally make his way to North America, but the terms of his contract leave little room for flexibility, according to a source close to the situation.
“If SKA is eliminated early from the playoffs, Demidov will continue playing in the MHL to help the club compete for the Kharlamov Cup, a trophy he won in 2024 with SKA-1946,” said a source close to the situation to RG. “The organization prioritizes winning titles at every level, not just the Gagarin Cup.”
The team has a history of keeping their top young players engaged in competitive environments, ensuring they gain experience before making the jump to the next level.
However, the idea of sending the club’s leading scorer down to the MHL, in the event that SKA is eliminated in their first-round matchup in the KHL Playoffs, will certainly create a debate. Demidov torched the MHL last year and produced at an historic rate in the playoffs before getting bogged down with injury.
While some players have been granted early exits to the NHL, such as Boston’s Marat Khusnutdinov last season, Demidov’s situation is different. SKA is actively trying to keep him in the fold beyond May 31.
Take Alexander Nikishin, the captain of the club and the top prospect of the Carolina Hurricanes. After his many years of service to the organization, his representatives and SKA have come to an agreement that he would be able to leave early to join the Carolina Hurricanes for the NHL Playoffs.
“Unlike Alexander Nikishin, whom SKA agreed to release early for the NHL, Demidov does not have this option due to his MHL eligibility,” said the source on the subject.
“He’s accepted the situation and is not pushing for an early move to North America.”
Ultimately, it seems like SKA and Rotenberg are very intent on squeezing out every second of Demidov’s contract, while the youngster continues to show a high level of professionalism in going along with it and biding his time.
A Montreal Debut This Season? Unlikely
However, there is one sliver of a chance that Ivan Demidov could land in Montreal prior to September 2025.
It’s a long-shot to say the least. But, if the Canadiens were not only able to qualify for the playoffs, and make it to the Stanley Cup Finals, Demidov would be eligible to sign his entry-level contract and join the club.
While fans in Montreal may be eager to see him in a Canadiens jersey to help the team qualify for the Spring Dance, they will likely have to wait a little longer. His eventual transition to the NHL appears inevitable, but the timeline is firmly dictated by SKA’s control over his contract.
Contrary to popular belief, the NHL does not allow NHL teams to help or incentivize the process of buying out an agreement early when there isn’t an established transfer agreement in place. This means that the Canadiens wouldn’t be able to come to a deal with SKA to buy out an agreement.
General manager Kent Hughes appeared unbothered and at peace with this outcome back in January, when he himself indicated that the club didn’t expect to have access to Demidov until the summer.
It’s likely not the outcome that Montreal Canadiens fans are hoping for, but, as they say, all good things are worth waiting for.
Marco D'Amico is a beat reporter covering the Montreal Canadiens and the NHL Draft, while also being a recurring guest on TSN690 and BPM Sports. His work primarily on NHL CBA breakdowns and prospect analysis, all while covering the Montreal Canadiens on a day-to-day basis.
