The Montreal Canadiens 2024 5th overall pick, Ivan Demidov, turned heads during his NHL debut on April 14 against the Chicago Blackhawks, picking up a goal and an assist. As expected, the Russian phenom was quiet during the Canadiens first-round playoff matchup against the Washington Capitals, who moved on in five games.
Regardless, Habs fans cannot help but be pumped to have this kid in the top-6 for years to come. Demidov's development is detrimental to the Canadiens' success. What better way to make this a smooth process than bringing in a piece that will make him feel more comfortable and speak his native language. This got me thinking about Russian NHLers whom Montreal General Manager Kent Hughes could pursue if this is a route they'd like to go down. Here are a few options the Habs could go after.
Dmitri Voronkov
Russian power forward Dmitri Voronkov is up for a contract as a restricted free agent going into this offseason. Last season, he produced 47 points in 73 games on a young and exciting Columbus Blue Jackets squad.
Voronkov is the type of player that Kent Hughes has discussed bringing in. He's a relatively big boy and at 24 fits into the Canadiens age window for success. One issue I see is how much chemistry Voronkov has currently with countryman Kirill Marchenko, who is locked in for the next few seasons in Columbus. Acquiring Voronkov via an offer sheet without Columbus matching will likely mean the Habs would be overpaying, which I cannot see out of Kent Hughes.
Evgenii Dadonov
This one is not super realistic, given Dadonov’s extremely underwhelming tenure with the Habs. In the 2024-25 campaign, he’s put up 20 and 20 playing bottom-six minutes on a stacked Dallas Stars team. Regardless of where he ends up, he seems like a one-year deal type of candidate, given his age.
Since the Stars' successful trade deadline, Dadonov has not seen any powerplay time, making his 40-point season that much more impressive. His 52 playoff games and counting would be a great addition in the short term for a young Habs team looking to make that jump shortly.
Andrei Kuzmenko
Kuzmenko has been a polarizing player throughout his NHL tenure. His point production has been on a steady decline since his 74-point barrage when he came over from the KHL. Danny Briere saw something in him to bring him over for a brief stint to mentor Michkov and be a familiar face.
Kuzmenko won’t set the world on fire, but he has proven he can play well with good players. On opposite wings, he and Demidov could provide some offensive firepower for the second line. Defensively, there could be issues, but I’m expecting to see Demidov have more buy-in on both sides of the puck, similar to the strides Cole Caufield has taken under Martin St. Louis.
In conclusion, while Ivan Demidov's arrival has already sparked excitement in Montreal, surrounding him with the right support system could be key to unlocking his full potential. Bringing in a fellow Russian NHLer—whether it’s a young, physical presence like Dmitri Voronkov, a seasoned veteran like Evgeny Dadonov, or a skilled complementary forward like Andrei Kuzmenko—could help ease Demidov’s transition both on and off the ice.
Each option comes with its pros and cons, but the overarching goal remains the same: creating an environment where the Canadiens’ prized prospect can thrive. As Kent Hughes continues to shape the roster, keeping Demidov’s development in mind could be the catalyst that pushes the Habs closer to contender status in the years ahead.