The Montreal Canadiens are experiencing some Déjà vu with Ivan Demidov after David Reinbacher had a frustrating draft and one season.
Reinbacher had commitments in Switzerland that led him back to the NL with EHC Kloten, which kept him from coming over to North America. The situation was different than Demidov's, as Demidov is being benched by his coach. Whereas Reinbacher played, but his team was awful and it wasn't ideal for the Habs organization to watch him deal with that.
Fast forward to this season, and for a second consecutive year, the Habs' top draft selection from the most recent draft is dealing with a frustrating season. Both times, Montreal's management had no say in the development of their prized prospect. Demidov is playing strong hockey, that is during the minuscule amount of ice team that he gets.
How can Roman Rotenberg take his job as a head coach seriously?
— Matt Smith (@Snakebite350) November 30, 2024
Today SKA played Amur, the worst team in the KHL.
They won 7-5…
Ivan Demidov was listed as the 13th forward and DID NOT GET A SHIFT!
He cannot get to North America fast enough.@HabsUnfiltered #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/bUFCPLz0XT
Against the worst team in the Kontinental Hockey League, Demidov was listed as the 13th forward and wasn't given a shift. Obviously, it isn't a priority to develop a player who isn't going to stay beyond this season with the team. But Demidov hasn't played poorly nor has he been a liability, but still, he gets the short end of the stick.
When it comes down to it, it seems like a petty move by SKA's management not to let Demidov forego his contract and leave for North America. It's obvious that Demidov plays to head to Montreal as soon as he is able. And if he were here he would be playing the crucial minutes required for him to continue developing.
Don't let it be a lost season
My advice to Demidov, and I would think that Habs' management is preaching the same thing, is to tell him to be patient. One benefit that Demidov will get from dealing with this frustrating season is how to be patient through hardship. Montreal drafted Demidov for an array of reasons and his maturity is at the top of the list, which will only grow as he battles through a less-than-ideal situation.
So long as he continues training with the team and going through the motions while giving it his best when he does get ice time, there isn't much more that can be asked from him. This doesn't exactly provide excitement or confidence for the player, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Montreal wants you donning the blue-blanc-rouge as much as he wants to be there.
It can be viewed as a lost season where he doesn't learn much, but so long as he acts like a sponge and absorbs everything, he is bound to continue learning.