The Montreal Canadiens got a major boost at the end of the season when they signed rookie sensation Ivan Demidov to a three-year, entry-level contract. Fresh off a first-round KHL playoff defeat to Dynamo Moscow while a member of SKA Saint Petersburg, the 19-year-old Russian forward notched a goal and an assist eight days later in his first NHL game with the Canadiens.
“Really bleeping good,” Cole Caufield said of Demidov’s scouting report. “I think his drive, his compete level, obviously his skating and puck handling has been really fun to watch.”
Demidov, the fifth overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, has a unique rhythm and confidence to his game that goes against the grain — and that also extends to his favorite players growing up.
Saturday, two days before making his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut against the Washington Capitals, Demidov was asked by reporters if Alex Ovechkin, the NHL’s new goals king, was one of his idols growing up.
“Uhhhh,” Demidov responded as he thought through his response. “I love Malkin much better than Ovi.”
Demidov was also asked if meant more to be playing against Ovechkin in his first ever postseason series.
“I think, yeah a little bit,” he responded, “but now I just wanna help my team win.”
While Malkin is a likely first ballot Hall of Famer in the future, he’s reached superstardom in a much different way than Ovechkin on rival Pittsburgh. The Penguins forward, who has 1,346 points (514g, 832a) in 1,213 career games, is less a shooter and more a darty, crafty playmaker who has played a bit role to Sidney Crosby during his nearly two decades in the league.
“Malkin was awesome,” Demidov added.
The postseason games between Demidov and Ovechkin, 20 years his senior, will mark the first time they’ve played against each other. While Ovechkin admitted he didn’t know Demidov personally, he had seen enough to know that he was a good player and a future star in the league.
“Yeah, it’s going to be an interesting match,” Ovechkin said of Demidov. “Obviously, he’s a talented guy. We’ll see.”
During the KHL season, Demidov, who registered 49 points (19g, 30a) in 65 games with SKA, skated with former Washington Capital great Evgeny Kuznetsov. Demidov noted, however, two slick-skating former teammates have not chatted about the upcoming series.
“No, we didn’t talk about it with him, probably later,” Demidov said.
While the Habs’ prospect is “so excited to play” in the playoffs, he also admitted it’s strange to play in the postseason for two teams in two different leagues in the same month.
“Yeah, it is. It’s cool,” he said laughing. “I hope here (the result) much better than KHL.”
He added later, “I think it’s a good team, I just want to help to win. I will bring the energy. Just wanna help. That’s it.”
Though Demidov is still getting used to the NHL — Game 1 will mark just the third time he’s played for Montreal — his inexperience could give him the element of surprise. Without many games to analyze, the Capitals know Demidov could be a wild card as they prepare to face the Habs in Game 1.
“There’s going to be a feeling-out process for our guys of getting comfortable playing against him and seeing what he’s all about,” Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said of Demidov on Sunday. “He can absolutely be an x-factor.”
As for the 93 Demidov wears, the number has special significance to Habs fans as it marks the last time Montreal has won a championship in the NHL. The much-hyped winger who many Habs see as a possible savior said his number choice was merely a coincidence.
“I know last (Habs) Stanley Cup 1993,” he said. “Just I like this number. If 91 be open, I will take this. But now I just like this number.”
