BREAKING: Ivan Demidov to Join Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens fans rejoice. SKA St. Petersburg has just posted to social media that they have released Russian phenom Ivan Demidov from his contract, in order to join the Montreal Canadiens.
Thank you, Ivan 👏
— SKA Ice Hockey Club (@hcSKA_News) April 8, 2025
SKA and Ivan Demidov have taken a joint decision which will see the forward join the Montreal Canadiens this season. His KHL rights will remain with SKA. He will return to Saint Petersburg if he doesn’t gain a foothold in the NHL. pic.twitter.com/CsyMPKvE7k
"SKA and Ivan Demidov have taken a joint decision which will see the forward join the Montreal Canadiens this season," wrote the team, while stating that they will maintain his KHL rights "if he doesn’t gain a foothold in the NHL" — highly unlikely.
The Canadiens have also announced that Demidov has signed his three-year entry-level contract effective immediately.
Demidov told RG, “My goal for the rest of the season is to adapt to this new style of hockey as quickly as possible and show what I’m capable of.”
Hopes started to build after SKA was eliminated from the KHL playoffs on the weekend, and a report surfaced on Monday that the two sides began working on an agreement to extricate the young star from his SKA deal that extended until the end of May.
The 19-year-old sensation showed off his brilliant skills this season in the KHL, finishing with 19 goals and 49 points in 65 games in relatively limited ice time, with a plus/minus rating of +14.
He was the Habs' first-round pick, 5th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, and could immediately make Montreal a serious handful in the upcoming Stanley Cup playoffs.
