Ivan Demidov, born in Russia in 2005, was raised by a hockey-loving family, where his older brother (Semyon Demidov) was a professional player in the Russian League as well, and their father, who loved the game and played himself, inspired his sons with his love of the game. Playing in the U13 and U14 ProKhorkins Selects from 2017 to 2019, Ivan demonstrated his skill at a young age, playing 14 games and scoring a total of 25 points. After establishing his talent in the game, Demidov proceeded to play for the youth teams in Moscow (DYUSSH Dmitrov), then moved up to play for Vityaz Podolsk from U16-U18.
Making the move to the MHL, the development league for the KHL, Demidov was picked up by the SKA St. Petersburg in 2021-22 for the U17 team alongside the Russia U18 International JR team, where he played 9 games and earned 7 points. He proceeded to play back and forth between the MHL and the KHL until the 2024-25 season, during which he played a solid number of games in the KHL and was called up to play with the Canadiens. Demidov had an impressive start, scoring his first goal in his first NHL game ever.
GP | Goals | Assists | Total Points | +/- | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021-22 (U17 & MHL) | 36 | 24 | 23 | 47 | -5 |
2022-23 (MHL) | 46 | 19 | 45 | 64 | +29 |
2023-24 (MHL) | 35 | 23 | 37 | 60 | +47 |
2024-25 (KHL) | 65 | 19 | 30 | 49 | +14 |
2024-25 (NHL) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +1 |
We can't wait to see more of this from Ivan Demidov! 🤩
— NHL (@NHL) August 14, 2025
(🎥: @theLSHL) pic.twitter.com/7RPOzVDUOe
Ivan Demidov recently played at the LSHL Exhibition games in Montreal. A 3v3 summer tournament, Demidov is putting on a great performance, impressing many analysts with his slick puck work in the video above.
1. Ivan Demidov Profile
- Born on December 10, 2005 (19 years old)
- Born in Russia
- 184cm/6'0
- 87kg/192lbs
- Drafted 2024, round 1, 5th overall by the Montreal Canadiens
- Well-rounded game, mechanically sound puck handler with fast wrists, excellent shooter
2. Rookie of the Year?
With his combination of scoring ability, vision, and physicality, Demidov is quickly establishing himself as a front-runner for Rookie of the Year. While many talented rookies are vying for the honour, Demidov's early impact on both ends of the ice has him atop the conversation.
His performances have been consistently strong, whether it's a key assist in a tight game or a game-winning goal in overtime. As the Canadiens continue their process of becoming Stanley Cup contenders, Demidov's growth will be crucial in shaping the team’s future.
As the season progresses, Demidov's presence on the ice will be one to watch. Fans in Montreal are already buzzing about what the future holds for their promising new star. If his trajectory continues, Ivan Demidov could be more than just a candidate, and he could even be the face of the next great era in Canadiens hockey.
3. Previous Achievements
Ivan Demidov is no stranger to earning awards, having won back-to-back MVP honours and a Kharlamov Cup Championship in the MHL. Not slowing down his performance in his first pro season in the KHL, he set the record for most points (49) in the season by a U-20 player (surpassing Kirill Kaprizov's previous record), and won Rookie of the Month three times in September, December, and January. He was also named the KHL's Rookie of the Year on top of all of that.
Demidov comes to Montreal with an exceptional resume, ranging from dominating Russia’s junior and pro leagues to making a memorable NHL debut, making him not only a key asset for the Canadiens now but a leading contender for NHL Rookie of the Year. All Canadiens fans look forward to the season starting and seeing what else this young star has to offer.