It’s hard to author a much better start to your NHL career than the one Ivan Demidov just put together.
The Montreal Canadiens winger scored and added an assist in his first period of action on Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks, staking his team to an early 2-0 lead.
Both plays exemplified the skill that has Canadiens fans so excited about the fifth overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Demidov’s first career point, an assist, came as he made a nifty move to gain the blue line into the Blackhawks zone.
The 19-year-old then streaked down the left wing and curled toward the net before feeding Alex Newhook in front of the net, who made no mistake and deposited the Canadiens’ first goal.
Less than eight minutes later, Demidov showed he could capitalize on a bounce when the puck caromed off the end boards directly to him all alone in front of the net.
A slick forehand-backhand move later and Demidov was on the board with his first career goal.
Earlier, Demidov experienced a rousing rookie lap as fans in Montreal offered a standing ovation as he took the traditional warm-up skate on his own.
The Russian was considered perhaps the best prospect yet to play a game in the league.
He led Russian club SKA Saint Petersburg in scoring with 49 points (19 goals, 30 assists) in 65 games this season, setting a new Kontinental Hockey League record for under-20 players despite having inconsistent ice time.
Canadiens fans watched from afar while Demidov routinely made highlight-reel plays in Russia. They’ve been buzzing with even more excitement since his arrival.
A large group of Habs faithful eagerly waited to greet him when he touched down on Canadian soil Thursday night at Toronto Pearson Airport.
Demidov’s move to Montreal this season appeared highly improbable a week ago.
The slick forward had been expected to join the Canadiens nest season, but signed an entry-level contract last Tuesday after he was suddenly released by SKA more than a month before his KHL contract ran out.
Hughes, scout Nick Bobrov and special adviser Vincent Lecavalier drew criticism for visiting their prospect last December in Russia amid the country’s ongoing war in Ukraine, but the Canadiens GM believes that trip helped make the early signing possible.
“It’s always better to have established relationships, to have gotten the chance to meet them face-to-face instead of only over the phone,” Hughes said of meeting the SKA organization, including head coach Roman Rotenberg.
–with files from The Canadian Press
