Top prospect Ivan Demidov joining Canadiens this season

The Montreal Canadiens are bringing in one of their top prospects for the remainder of the season.

Forward Ivan Demidov will join the Canadiens now that his season with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL has come to an end, SKA announced Tuesday.

Shortly after SKA's announcement, the Canadiens announced that Demidov had agreed to a three-year entry-level contract that begins this season. The Canadiens did not disclose a timeline for him to join the team but he is eligible to play immediately and in the playoffs.

Demidov, 19, was the fifth overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and is seen by some as one of the most exciting prospects in hockey.

This season, his first full campaign in the KHL, he scored 19 goals and led his team with 49 points in 65 games. He then added three goals and five points in a six-game series loss to Dynamo Moscow in the opening round of the playoffs.

Sportsnet scout Jason Bukala had Demidov as the No. 2 prospect on his list for the 2024 Draft only behind Macklin Celebrini, but concerns about his ability to leave the KHL to come to North America saw him slip to the Canadiens at pick No. 5.

"... The kind of elite skill set that Demidov possesses is a gift that should keep on giving for the Canadiens in the future," Bukala wrote in November.

The Canadiens visited with Demidov in the fall but had no control over the situation. However, as SKA announced, the KHL team and Demidov agreed to his release, allowing him to pursue a career in the NHL.

This season has already been a massive success for the Canadiens. With a 38-30-9 record, the Canadiens have a six-point lead for the final wild card spot in the east with five games remaining.

The team has been led by a young core of captain Nick Suzuki (84 points), Cole Caufield (36 goals) and rookie defenceman Lane Hutson (64 points).

Now, adding Demidov to the mix would give the Canadiens another budding offensive star heading into their first playoff appearance since 2021.