Ivan Demidov - The Habs potential first 100-point scorer since Mats Naslund (1985-86) - headed to Montreal

Montreal Canadiens fans this is the moment we have been waiting for since June 2024, the announcement that Ivan Demidov is heading to North America.

Look no further than Elliotte Friedman’s retweet of SKA’s announcement that the KHL star rookie is terminating his KHL deal, and heading overseas to Montreal. 

Marco D'Amico of RG Media has confirmed it as legitimate, and now we can all rejoice - though Visa and immigration paperwork needs to be filed. 

But Ivan is on his way, and we can expect the Habs to improve tremendously upon his arrival. The Habs playoff hopes just got a ridiculously massive - Cale Makar-level - boost to their lineup.

Not on the blueline, but you get it, this guy is touted to be an NHL superstar, who compares himself stylistically to Jack Hughes and Nikita Kucherov. His two role models actively playing in the league.

Maybe No. 86 won’t look so bad on Demidov, unless he and Oliver Kapanen swap numbers. 

SKA and Demidov’s camp agreed to part ways mutually, allowing for him to sign a deal with Montreal, which is already actively being pursued with Kent Hughes and Demidov and his camp. 

Either way, minor details, Demidov is on the way very soon. Here’s a read of what a few hockey brains think of Demidov, and his NHL potential.

The big day is here, Habs fans we deserve this. Demidov has inked his entry-level deal (2024-25 - 2026-27). 

I would expect that Demidov will play as soon as he gets to Montreal. What’s his number Marty? 

Big compliments from two hockey heads

Elite Prospects Director of video scouting Cam Robinson suggested that Montreal Canadiens' top prospect (2025 fifth-overall selection) Ivan Demidov has the potential to score 100-point seasons for the Habs.

Robinson also shared that he believes Demidov is one of the best stickhandlers in the world. His skating is elite, and he has the potential to be the Habs best forward in a couple of years. 

This isn’t surprising, because many already know this, but having a top scout confirm it, is music to my ears. 

Whether he shifts to center or not is irrelevant, because he is going to make an impact wherever he plays. Though if he did work at center, a line of Patrik Laine, Ivan Demidov and Michael Hage would be silly. 

This would ensure the Habs' top-six is absolutely rock solid, and rest assured Kent Hughes and co. have drafted and developed a great cast of bottom-six talent. If you watch the Laval Rocket, you know what I’m talking about. 

If not, well I intend to write a piece about the talent kicking around on the farm, where Head Coach Pascal Vincent has been coaching a well-oiled machine. I suggest you have a look at it.

Back to Demidov, however. 

I think putting him on the wing opposite from Laine will maximize his tools, while also allowing No. 92 to blast more pucks into the net. The goal is to score goals aplenty, having Cole Caufield and Laine firing at a 40-goal pace simultaneously will dramatically improve the Habs attack. 

This leads to one final question - if Montreal is looking to maximize the return from Demidov’s ELC and Laine’s final year of his current deal - who is their center going to be? 

Hage is headed back to Michigan, and internally Oliver Kapanen and Owen Beck - who I am writing a piece about concurrently - are the second-line options, though they would slot into a 3c role most effectively. 

Having said that, I would say Kapanen is a smidge ahead of Beck, though Beck is a better skater, and his shot is heavier - in my viewing. No slight to Kapanen who scored 35 points in 36 games with Timrå IK in the SHL (Top Swedish league).

Back to the second-line center conversation though, I think Hughes needs to find one via trade because there isn’t one who can be plucked out of the 2025 draft, and into the Habs lineup next year. 

That’s a story for another day.