Hockey

“I Really Like Lane Hutson” — Ivan Demidov on Following The Canadiens, Time With Kuznetsov, & KHL Honors

Published: Nov 10, 2024, 11:50 AM
1 min read
Updated: Jul 24, 2025, 10:54 AM
Fact checked by:
Marco D'Amico
Jake Evans #71 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates his goal with teammate Michael Pezzetta #55 and Lane Hutson #48

Jake Evans #71 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates his goal with teammate Michael Pezzetta #55 and Lane Hutson #48 (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

 

It’s been a roller-coaster season for Ivan Demidov and SKA so far in the KHL. Despite some roster fluctuations, SKA has been able to stay in the leader group of the Western Conference, while Demidov has been one of the most productive players in the league.

After having been selected 5th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft by the Montreal Canadiens, Demidov has been focused on making his rookie season in the KHL one to remember.

Transitioning to the KHL and Playing with Kuznetsov

Demidov has had a very impressive start to his KHL career, putting up six goals and 19 points in just 25 games with SKA St Petersburg this season.

But, in an exclusive interview with RG, Demidov broke down that his early success is no fluke; he’s been actively preparing for this opportunity for over a year now.

“Nothing has changed much. I was already preparing for this last year in the MHL to get my game to the level I would need to play in the KHL,” said Demidov. “I wouldn't say that the transition was very difficult for me.”

There have been moments when Demidov has shown his inexperience on the ice, but his transition to pro hockey has been made a little easier thanks to his playing time with NHL vet Evgeny Kuznetsov.

“He is very experienced. After each game, he says ‘you must immediately forget about it and turn the page. Good or bad game, it doesn't matter. You must live in the present and prepare for the next game’.”

Kuznetsov’s Ted Lasso-like mantra has helped Demidov play through some of the more frustrating moments of his rookie season.

But his play on the ice has also made the transition to the KHL a much easier process for the youngster.

“Kuznetsov has a very good hockey sense, always knowing where and when to be on the ice. I won't say that he surprises me with his passes, but I always try to be where he can get me the puck.”

Rookie Of the Year?

Demidov has been a regular winner of the KHL’s Rookie of the Week award, thanks to some recent electric performances for SKA.

Although it’s an individual award given out to the best youngsters in the league, Demidov made the honor a team accomplishment, crediting his teammates and coaching staff for his continued success.

“This is a great honor from the league, but several factors contributed to it. The coaching staff has begun to trust me more, and our line also developed better chemistry, leading to more goals. I feel very confident now.”

Demidov’s play so far this season has him trending as the front-runner for the KHL’s Rookie of the Year award. But, if you ask the 18-year-old, his own personal accomplishments aren’t the priority at the moment.

“Yes, I would like to win the Rookie of the Year, but I haven’t really followed other rookies in the league. My focus right now is on the fact that we’re on a four-game losing streak. So, my personal goals aren’t really important,” admitted Demidov when discussing individual honors over team success. “The team needs me to produce in order to get momentum back on our side.”

Keeping An Eye On The Montreal Canadiens

On his down time, Demidov has also been keeping an eye on the Montreal Canadiens this season.

Demidov was quick to point out the stellar play of Lane Hutson; one of the top contenders for the Calder Trophy this season, as one of the most exciting things he’s seen out of Montreal.

“I really like Lane Hutson,” said Demidov. “He is playing brilliantly.”

But it’s not all flowers and rainbows in Montreal right now, as they have had a very bumpy start to the year. Demidov, who has gone through his own adversity, related to the young Canadiens roster and remained confident that the team would find a way out of their current funk.

“The Canadiens are in a small hole right now, but this is understandable - they have one of the youngest teams in the league. I think they will fix everything. They will be fine.”

Roman Rotenberg Compares Canadiens and SKA Players

At the same time, SKA head coach Roman Rotenberg believes that Demidov currently would have partners of a different level in the Canadiens than he does in SKA.

"If we compare Demidov last season, when he was with us at the beginning of the season at training camp, and now, they are two completely different hockey players," Rotenberg told RG exclusively on Saturday. "Now he is a player ready to win battles and fight men equally. He is ready to win battles against any player in the KHL. That is, he has improved in absolutely all aspects of the game. And I can honestly tell you that not only his hard work and our good work with him in the summer helped him develop, but also his partners. I will honestly tell you that there are no partners today in Montreal as Ivan has in SKA. And this allows him to develop as a player and as a person. There are no such centers in Montreal, no such wingers now. Of course, opinions on this matter may differ. But this is my opinion."

On Thursday’s game against HC Sochi, Demidov played in the line with Sergei Plotnikov and Mikhail Vorobyev. Plotnikov played 45 games in the NHL in the 2015-16 season for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Arizona Coyotes, scoring 3 points (three assists). Vorobyev played 35 games for the Philadelphia Flyers in 2018-19 and 2019-20, scoring 5 points (two goals, three assists).

Looking for top-rated betting sites? Check out our Sportsbook Comparison for Canada.

Head of News Department
Sergey Demidov is Head of News at RG.org and has covered global sports since 2007. His work spans the Olympics, FIFA World Cups, IOC events, and Stanley Cup Finals. A former sports department deputy chief editor at Gazeta.Ru and TASS News Agency, and current senior editor at NHL.com/ru, Sergey has interviewed stars like Alex Ovechkin and Jaromir Jagr, former WADA and FIFA presidents Craig Reedy and Sepp Blatter, and coaches like Fabio Capello. He specializes in hockey and publishes in English and Russian.
Interests:
NHL
EPL
FIFA
UCL
NFL
NBA
BWF
Hiking
Reading
Movies
Food

More RG Exclusive Interviews

Hockey
News Report
Jimmy Vesey Weighs KHL Offers as NHL Future Uncertain

NHL veteran Jimmy Vesey is exploring a move to the KHL, with SKA St. Petersburg emerging as a top contender for the 32-year-old forward.

4
07/29/2025
Daria Tuboltseva
Daria Tuboltseva
Jimmy Vesey Weighs KHL Offers as NHL Future Uncertain
Hockey
Analysis
Top 10 Greatest NHL Players of All Time According to AI

RG asked four AI models to rank the top 10 NHL players ever using a weighted formula. The results reveal both consensus and controversy.

16
07/28/2025
Quinn Allen
Quinn Allen
Top 10 Greatest NHL Players of All Time According to AI
Hockey
Interview
Beckett Sennecke Trusting Ducks’ Plan For His NHL Journey

Beckett Sennecke is coming off a dominant season and says he’s open to whatever path the Anaheim Ducks believe is best for his NHL development.

7
07/26/2025
Andrew Knoll
Andrew Knoll
Beckett Sennecke Trusting Ducks’ Plan For His NHL Journey
Hockey
Interview
Ivan Prosvetov Eyes Flames’ Starting Role, Ready For McDavid

Returning NHL goalie Ivan Prosvetov joins the Calgary Flames on a one-year deal, determined to secure the starter’s job and face star Connor McDavid.

6
07/23/2025
Sergey Demidov
Sergey Demidov
Ivan Prosvetov Eyes Flames’ Starting Role, Ready For McDavid
Prev
...
Next

Hockey Writers

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.

Beyond her writing, Daria brings extensive on-camera experience. She hosted NHL Today on Yandex.Efir and has produced powerful long-form projects such as the documentary Lokomotiv Crash and the series Hockey Country, featuring stars like Ovechkin, Malkin, Bobrovsky, Vasilevskiy, and Panarin. Her work has taken her to NHL games across North America and international events like the NHL Global Series in Europe.

In addition to her media career, Daria is a certified integrative nutritionist with a focus on sports nutrition. She works one-on-one with KHL players, helping them optimize performance and recovery through tailored nutrition plans. Her ability to blend media expertise with athlete support gives her a unique presence in the professional hockey world.

Daria publishes in both English and Russian and is the creator of the Telegram channel Coolest Game on Earth, where she shares insights, interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the hockey world.

Based in: Saint Petersburg, Russia

Languages: English, Russian

Meet All Our Experts
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Read our
Privacy Policy
.