Ivan Demidov (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
The wait is nearly over—Ivan Demidov is on the move.
After a brief stop in Turkey to finalize his Canadian work visa, the highly touted Russian forward is officially en route to Toronto. Demidov is expected to land in the city later today, Thursday, April 10, marking a major step in his transition to the NHL.
As a source told RG, Demidov departed Istanbul at 4:02 p.m. local time on flight TK17 and is expected to land at Toronto Pearson International Airport after 7 p.m. local time.
With paperwork now cleared, the 19-year-old will spend Friday acclimating and resting after his travel from Istanbul. The plan is for Demidov to join the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday when they face off against the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.
Despite joining the team this weekend, Demidov’s NHL debut is still expected to come on Monday, April 14, at the Bell Centre against the Chicago Blackhawks—a home debut that promises to bring plenty of buzz to Montreal.
The Canadiens signed Demidov to a maximum entry-level deal earlier this week, and anticipation around his arrival has only grown in recent days. With his travel and visa hurdles now behind him, the focus shifts to when he’ll finally hit the ice in a Canadiens jersey—something fans won’t have to wait much longer to see.
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.
