The plan for Montreal Canadiens top prospect and 2024 fifth overall pick Ivan Demidov was to return to Russia and management was going to visit him during the season.
With a dip in his ice time becoming the norm and inconsistent minutes, the news of general manager Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton, the Habs executive president of hockey operations heading overseas becomes very interesting. Maybe it's just the Canadiens doing the due diligence, and it's a routine thing as they had planned. Demidov is under contract for this season and that's it, but you have to wonder if Hughes doesn't feel the situation is the right one anymore, then what happens?
Hughes and Gorton have been careful not to say anything incriminating, but you would have to think that if the situation isn't benefitting Demidov's development then action should be taken. It's obvious that Demidov is a special talent, and his ice time needs to be the number one priority, or else why not come to North America? I suppose that if the only option is a contract buyout, then that puts a stick in the wheels of Demidov, who likely can't afford to do so.
Elliotte Friedman on the Habs brass planning to visit Ivan Demidov in Russia 🇷🇺 soon:
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) October 20, 2024
“The moment the MTL Canadiens drafted him, they made plans that at some point in time they would eventually go in the season to watch him, visit him, check & see how he’s doing. They are… pic.twitter.com/2zI6Qs9geh
The hope is that they can figure out a way to get Demidov over to Montreal as soon as possible and allow him to continue his development around the organization. With 11 points through 18 games, Demidov has done quite well given his deployment. Surely, the rumours that Demidov has turned down a contract extension offer, could hold some merit to the situation.
Déjà vu?
David Reinbacher was drafted fifth overall in the draft prior to Demidov's draft (2023) and while his deployment wasn't questioned, the poor team was rough for the teenager. It's not the perfect example of déjà vu, but it's eerily similar in that both players stayed in Europe. The hopes are certainly that Demidov's team stays competitive and he gets a chance to compete for a Gagarin cup.
If Habs fans had it their way, Reinbacher would have played the full 2023-24 season in Laval with the Rocket. Likewise, Demidov would be in La Belle Province sporting the famous bleu, blanc et rouge Canadiens sweater. Unfortunately, to this point, neither have graced the iced in any capacity for the Habs.
Let's hope that Hughes can find a middle ground with SKA St. Petersburg head coach Roman Rotenberg. Rotenberg wants his team to be competitive, which means that he will ice the players that give him the best chance to win. But Hughes has Demidov's development in mind as the number one priority, so you have to wonder what awaits.