Is Roman Rotenberg doing the right thing for Ivan Demidov?

It's fine for the Montreal Canadiens fans to be protective over their newest top prospect. The KHL hasn't been a league that develops young players well, as they prioritize their established veterans who can contribute over improving their young talent. It makes sense for SKA-St. Petersburg to be cautious playing Ivan Demidov if he isn't ready to contribute. SKA is in the business of being KHL championship contenders, they aren't in it to develop players leaving for North America in May.

Roman Rotenberg promised the Canadiens and their front office that he would stick to the plan with Demidov. It seems like Rotenberg hasn't gone too far off the path, but he is also keeping the best interests of the rest of his roster in mind. RG.org caught up with Rotenberg recently and received some comments that may not go over well with Habs fans.

“If we look at the start of our season in detail, then we can see that Ivan received a lot of ice time, played on a line with Evgeny Kuznetsov, as well as getting a regular shift on the powerplay. His performances earned him the title of KHL Rookie of the Month. Even in our previous game against Avtomobilist, we trusted Ivan in the dire moments when we were trailing and needed a goal to get back in the game. Our main priority is to win games, and we’re doing everything possible to ensure that our players are focused on contributing to our team’s success. Demidov is no exception here.”

Rotenberg also didn't rule out the possibility of Demidov joining another team before the season ends. Demidov's brother plays in the VHL, the Russian version of the AHL. He could also be sent to the MHL, which would be the worst-case scenario for the Canadiens.

“Any option is possible, but right now, Ivan is playing on our main team. He’s working with a roster that contains players of the highest level, guys from whom he can learn a lot. The competition will only make him better.”

The Canadiens knew what they signed up for when they allowed Demidov to stay in Russia. He has been looking good when he gets opportunities, so the only thing to do is wait for May 31, 2025, when his KHL contract expires. Before jumping on Rotenberg, let's put his situation into perspective. The fanbase would be livid if the Canadiens had a Russian prospect on their roster who we knew was leaving in May.

Rotenberg is making the best out of a bad situation. Is there truth to SKA punishing Demidov because he intended to join the Canadiens after his contract expires? It's very possible. However, the best we can do is let him ride out the season and dream of how he'll look in Habs colors in 2025-26. If Demidov comes to North America with a new edge from battling for playing time all season and a bigger emphasis on playing with winning habits, it'll be all the better.