Canadiens' Ivan Demidov skates on line with Newhook, Armia ahead of game

MONTREAL — Ivan Demidov is set to make his highly anticipated — and sooner-than-expected — NHL debut Monday.

The 19-year-old Russian with dazzling talent will take the ice when his Montreal Canadiens host the Chicago Blackhawks with a chance to clinch a playoff spot.

"He has a unique blend of skill, hockey sense, deception,” general manager Kent Hughes said, highlighting Demidov’s ability to move laterally on the ice. “Let's see how it is. He's going to adjust to a different game of hockey here."

The fifth-overall pick in last year’s NHL draft is 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.

Many more watched from home.

Montreal-based podcaster and radio host Tony Marinaro streamed Demidov’s airport arrival live on X, formerly Twitter, reaching a high of 175,000 viewers.

Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson grew up in nearby Pointe-Claire, Que., and can hardly remember the fan base showing such fervour for one player.

"It's been nuts. It obviously shows how excited our fans are,” said the 31-year-old. “Social media kind of causes it to be way (bigger) than it could have ever been when I was growing up."

Sports equipment company Warrior took advantage of the craze by rolling out campaign posters of Demidov around Montreal in a nod to the April 28 federal election.

"It's something that makes Montreal the best hockey city in the world,” Hughes said of the fan reaction. “We see it often in soccer around the world, and when there’s passion there are other aspects that come with that."

The pressure is high, but Matheson said he’s continuously reminding Demidov that it’s only a hockey game.

“It's a great time to be a Habs fan," said the blueliner. "But for him I think it's important to know that he doesn't need to come in and be the saviour."

Demidov, who wasn't expected to be made available to the media until after Monday's game, skated on the right wing of Montreal's third line alongside centre Alex Newhook and winger Joel Armia at the morning skate. Head coach Martin St. Louis said he would also feature on the team's second power-play unit.

Demidov's move to Montreal this season appeared highly improbable a week ago.

The slick forward had been expected to join the Canadiens in 2025-26, 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.

At a midseason news conference on Jan. 8, Hughes downplayed the possibility that Demidov would join the Canadiens this season. So what changed?

“Two things: They were eliminated earlier than expected, and we have a chance to make the playoffs,” he said.

Hughes also said he didn’t ask for Demidov’s early release during his visit in December.

“If we left for Russia and upon arrival tried to ask for his release, I think, for me at least, I would’ve seen it from their side as disingenuous,” he said.

Demidov skated with the Canadiens’ extras Saturday morning at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, but watched that night's game against the Maple Leafs from the press box.

His entry into the lineup comes at a time of high stakes for Montreal.

The Canadiens (39-31-10) held the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 88 points — three more than the Columbus Blue Jackets with two games remaining for both teams — entering play Monday.

A win against the lowly Blackhawks (23-46-11), ranked second-last in the NHL, would secure their place in the playoffs and set up a first-round series against the Washington Capitals.

Montreal has already missed two opportunities to clinch after back-to-back losses to the Ottawa Senators and Toronto. Columbus, the only other team that remains in the hunt, has won four straight.