Hockey

Ivan Demidov is Scheduled to Land in Toronto on Thursday, Expected to Join Canadiens on Saturday

Published: Apr 10, 2025, 2:48 PM
1 min read
Updated: Jul 24, 2025, 11:09 AM
Fact checked by:
Sergey Demidov
Ivan Demidov

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.

Senior News Editor
Marco D’Amico is an accredited hockey reporter covering the Montreal Canadiens, with a strong focus on NHL prospects, the NHL Draft, and player development. His work has appeared on TSN, RDS, CBC, and more, and he’s interviewed top talents like Lane Hutson, Shane Wright, Ivan Demidov, Logan Cooley, and Nathan MacKinnon.
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Daria Tuboltseva
Daria Tuboltseva
Hockey Reporter

Daria Tuboltseva has worked as a sports journalist since 2014 and has specialized in hockey coverage since 2016. She’s reported from some of the world’s biggest sporting events, including the Olympic Games (Beijing 2022), the FIFA World Cup (2018), the IIHF World Championships (2016–2019, 2021), the IIHF World Junior Championship (2019), and every Gagarin Cup Final since 2017.

Her work has appeared in leading Russian sports outlets like Championat.com and Sport24, as well as on the official websites of the KHL and the Women’s Hockey League (WHL). Daria has conducted exclusive interviews with some of the sport’s most recognized names, including Alex Ovechkin, Jaromir Jagr, Kirill Kaprizov, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Igor Shesterkin.

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