Ivan Demidov's KHL career started well on Evgeni Kuznetsov's wing, assisting on the former Washington Capitals' first goal of the season. He stayed with Kuznetsov for the next game, with his ice time dipping almost 30 seconds. SKA St. Petersburg lost the first game in overtime but won the second 3-1.
Demidov's TOI dropped to 10:02 in the following game, coincidentally ending with SKA getting shut out against Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Head coach Roman Rotenberg demoted Demidov to the fourth line for Thursday's game against Traktor Chelyabinsk, which ended with nearly 14 minutes of ice time. However, Rotenberg kept Demidov off the ice while chasing a lead in the third period and played him once the game was out of reach.
Ivan Demidov's TOI to start the KHL season:
— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) September 12, 2024
• Game 1: 14:02
• Game 2: 13:36
• Game 3: 10:02
On pace for ~9 minutes in game No. 4.
Rotenberg isn't making many fans in Montreal with Demidov's usage. Many fans are streaming KHL games during their workday to watch their future superstar, and they are seeing less and less of him every game. It's no surprise that Demidov isn't getting much ice time, no matter how much he deserves it. The Russian professional leagues have always been loyal to their veterans and make the young stars earn their place on the team.
SKA coach Roman Rotenberg today on Ivan Demidov & other young players on his team:
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) September 12, 2024
“If a hockey player deserves playing time, he will play.”
👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/PxWu8wbvNq
The issue for the Canadiens is they don't have much time to waste on Demidov earning a place on the team. If Rotenberg decides to keep playing him ten minutes per game, that's a lot of wasted development in one of Demidov's most integral years. Another problem is that there isn't much they can do but let it play out.
The Canadiens likely feel that Demidov is better off in the KHL than playing in North America in the AHL. He could come over and play in the NHL, but that won't be good for his development, either, if he struggles. If that happens, he'd likely come to the NHL and play bottom-six minutes like in the KHL.
So, is it better for Demidov to go to the VHL (Russia's version of the AHL) and dominate the competition there? He would play 15+ minutes per game and learn to play against grown men. It wouldn't be as good of a competition, but at this point, something has to change with SKA.
The team getting shut out in back-to-back games could force Rotenberg's hand to make a change. Demidov could be the shot in the arm the offense needs to break their slump.