It isn't going to be an easy situation for Ivan Demidov. The KHL star is taking his game to a completely different level on Monday evening when he debuts against the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Montreal Canadiens fans must temper expectations over the final two regular season games. If Demidov comes out firing, don't label him as the next Maurice Richard. If he struggles early, don't call him a bust. It'll be important to ride the wave and just hope we can see some production from the newcomer.
Demidov will hope that he can live up to the massive expectations. The scene at Pearson International Airport on Thursday when his plane arrived was a sight to behold. Canadiens fans flocked to the airport to get a look at their new star, and that's likely just the beginning of the fanfare. The weight of the expectations would bury anyone, but it seems like Demidov has no fear of the spotlight. In fact, after learning about his comments to Roman Rotenberg in the negotiation to end his contract in Russia, it seems like Demidov welcomes the pressure.
SKA coach Roman Rotenberg said today on BPM Sports that Ivan Demidov personally asked him to go to the NHL to “show off his skills” for the Habs & play against Alex Ovechkin & the Washington Capitals in the playoffs pic.twitter.com/qt8rLOHqif
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) April 8, 2025
Speaking of taking over the hockey world, Alex Ovechkin did just that last Sunday when he broke the all-time goalscoring record held by Wayne Gretzky. It's hard to imagine how much the people in Russia loved one of their own taking over an "unbreakable" NHL record, and Demidov certainly found a way to pull at Rotenberg's heart strings. Demidov stating that he wanted to come to the NHL early to take on Ovechkin in the playoffs tells us everything we need to know about his mindset.
The problem for Demidov is he might not get the chance to face the Washington Capitals. The Canadiens can get one point within the Ottawa Senators if they beat them on Friday night. If Montreal earns those two points, they are one step closer to facing the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round. If that happens, Demidov will receive all the pressure he wants.
Canadiens' teammates are excited about the prospect
Lane Hutson is no stranger to the spotlight in Montreal. One of the most exciting things about Demidov's debut is how he'll look alongside Hutson, as they are two of the most dynamic offensive players the Canadiens have seen in quite some time. Hutson spoke on Thursday about his excitement for his arrival.
"“I've seen tons of his highlights all the time. He's a pretty special player for sure. It looks like he can play anywhere in the lineup and help the team. It’s special to see. I'm excited to see what he can do and what I can do with him too.”"Lane Hutson
A prospect is rarely so good that he has teammates talking before arriving in the country. It'll be an exciting time on Monday night when Demidov steps on the ice for the first time, and the roof could blow off the Bell Centre. Demidov will take it all in stride.