Montreal Canadiens star Ivan Demidov is seeing an uptick in ice time and responsibility, and the rookie simply continues to prove that he was built for this moment.
After constant criticism from fans regarding Demidov's ice time, or lack thereof, coach Martin St. Louis may have heard the noise. Demidov delivered one of the most complete performances of his young career, subsequently earning him the most ice time he has seen this season.
Ivan Demidov plays large role in Canadiens victory
Demidov helped drive the Canadiens to a 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night, in a game the Habs needed to have amid their recent struggles. Demidov looked as good as ever, recording a beautiful assist, a +1 rating, and a season-high 19:29 of ice time.
The 19-year-old also logged 25 shifts, easily the most he’s seen in his young career. It was clear that coach St. Louis trusted Demidov enough to not only have him out there more than usual on offense but also gave the young winger much more responsibility in the Canadiens' end of the ice.
Ivan Demidov played a career-high 19:29 tonight.
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) December 4, 2025
By simply looking at Demidov's time on ice logs, an uptick in minutes is evident. After playing just 12 minutes in the Canadiens' 4-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights, Demidov's ice time has only increased. 14 minutes against the Avalanche, 17 against the Senators, and finally a season high of 19:29 against the Jets. An encouraging trend for fans who are pleading to see Demidov used like a true top-six forward.
Even when the points were not coming at a rapid pace to begin the season, Demidov's movement and playmaking ability remained apparent. The raw talent has always been there, making his potential obviously sky-high; however, fans must not forget that patience is a part of the equation. The Canadiens have been careful not to overload him right away, instead giving him manageable matchups and gradually increasing his role.
Against the Jets, that growth was impossible to miss. Demidov looked dynamic with the puck, opening up passing lanes and helping tilt possession in the Canadiens' favour. Not to mention taking care of the puck in his own zone, and constantly being in the correct position to help out defensively. His lone point came on a brilliant play, where he went into the dirty area of the ice, won the puck due to a hard forecheck and fed fellow rookie Oliver Kapanen a feed in which he made no mistake on. All the things a coach wants to see his rookie do.
Demidov on the forecheck and spins it out for an elite dish instantly 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gwHhohPoZy
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) December 4, 2025
For Demidov, this game may have been the turning point in truly earning his coach's trust in all aspects of the game. For a player who has only topped 17 minutes of ice time a handful of times before this game, that shift in deployment speaks volumes.
When asked post-game if he felt he was gaining his coach's trust in the defensive department of the game, Demidov said "I feel like ya, game to game, it’s coming." Respecting the coach's decision, but seemingly knowing that his play will do the talking and ultimately force St.Louis and his staff to play him more often.
Demidov now sits at 20 points through 26 games this season, well on pace for a strong rookie campaign. More nights like this, combined with increased top-six minutes and special-teams work, could elevate his play even more as he hopes to keep the Calder Trophy in the city of Montreal.
Development doesn’t always make headlines. But breakout games do. On Wednesday night in front of a packed Bell Centre, Ivan Demidov showed exactly why the Canadiens drafted him, and why patience may soon pay off in a massive way.