| Ivan Demidov | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | (2005-12-10)10 December 2005 (age 19) Sergiyev Posad,Russia | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb) | ||
| Position | Right wing | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team Former teams | Montreal Canadiens SKA Saint Petersburg | ||
| NHL draft | 5th overall,2024 Montreal Canadiens | ||
| Playing career | 2022–present | ||
Ivan Alexeyevich Demidov (Russian:Иван Алексеевич Демидов; born 10 December 2005) is a Russian professionalice hockeyright winger for theMontreal Canadiens of theNational Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, fifth overall, by the Canadiens in the2024 NHL entry draft.
Born on 10 December 2005 inSergiyev Posad, Demidov began training at a young age, particularly with the DYUSSH Dmitrov youth team. His talent and commitment to the sport were demonstrated in his early performances across a variety of youth leagues and competitions, including the WSI U13 and U14 ranks. Demidov made waves with the Vityaz U16 team by the 2020–21 season, scoring 28 points in 11 games.[1]
During the course of the 2022–23Junior Hockey League (MHL) season, he played forSKA-1946 St. Petersburg alongside his older brother, Semyon, where they finished as the top two scorers of the team.[1] The younger Demidov scored over 1.4 points per game (PPG), leading all skaters.[2] He made hisKontinental Hockey League (KHL) debut withSKA Saint Petersburg at the age of 16 in November 2022, and also partook in theKHL All-Star Game the following month.[3]
Over the course of the 2023–24 season, Demidov faced many setbacks, enduring three separate injuries which resulted in him missing half of the regular season. Nonetheless, he went on to lead his team to victory in the ensuingKharlamov Cup and was named MVP for the second consecutive year, registering 60 points in only 30 games for an impressive 2.0 PPG pace.[1]
The presumptive second overall pick entering the2024 NHL entry draft due to his passing and goal-scoring abilities according toscouts,[4] hockey insiderBob McKenzie speculated Demidov might fall on draft day as a result of theRussian invasion of Ukraine.[5] He was ultimately selected fifth overall by theMontreal Canadiens, which was announced by prominent Canadian singerCeline Dion.[6][7]
Despite limited playing time with SKA Saint Petersburg to begin the2024–25 KHL season, Demidov was solid offensively, registering eight points (four goals and four assists) in the team's first ten games. For his efforts, he was named to the KHL All-Rookie Team[8] as well as earning Rookie of the Month honors for September 2024.[9] In December 2024, Demidov was recognized as KHL Rookie of the Month for the second time.[10] Following the departure of SKA Saint Petersburg teammateTony DeAngelo in mid-January 2025, Demidov was selected as his replacement as part of the annual league All-Star Game.[11] On 28 January, he recorded his first professionalhat-trick in a 4–1 win versusdivisional rival,HC Vityaz.[12] Days later, Demidov was revealed as Rookie of the Month honoree for the second consecutive month; his third time cumulatively over the course of the 2024–25 KHL campaign.[13] On 4 February 2025, he would surpass fellow countrymanKirill Kaprizov for the most single season points registered by an under-20 player in league history with 43.[14][15] Demidov would finish the regular season with 49 points (19 goals, 30 assists) in 65 games played.[16]
Facing off againstDynamo Moscow in that year'sGagarin Cup playoffs, SKA Saint Petersburg would ultimately be ousted in six games.[17] For his part, Demidov registered two goals and three assists in the series, and was subsequently named the best rookie of the first round by league officials.[18] He was likewise chosen as a finalist for the Alexei Cherepanov Award, given to the KHL's rookie of the year.[19]
Following the end of his respective KHL season, Demidov had his contract with SKA Saint Petersburg terminated on 8 April.[20] The same day, he agreed to a three-year, entry-level deal with the Montreal Canadiens and joined the team for the remainder of the2024–25 season.[21][22]
On 14 April, Demidov made hisNational Hockey League (NHL) debut versus theChicago Blackhawks atBell Centre, slotting onto Montreal'sthird line alongsideAlex Newhook andJoel Armia.[23] Registering a goal and assist in the first period, he became the second-youngest Canadiens skater and third teenager to score in their NHL debut (joiningMark Hunter andBernie Geoffrion), while also becoming the second franchise player with a multi-point inaugural game prior to age 20, followingPetr Svoboda in1984.[24] Thereafter, Demidov registered two assists in Game 4 of the team's first roundStanley Cup playoffs series against theWashington Capitals, surpassingHenri Richard as the youngest player in franchise history to register a multi-point effort over the course of their inaugural NHL postseason appearance.[25][26]
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men'sice hockey | ||
Representing Russia | ||
| Hlinka Gretzky Cup | ||
 | 2021 Czech Republic/Slovakia | |
Internationally, Demidov won gold with his country'snational under-18 team at the2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, scoring five points in five games.[27] He also earned a bronze medal shortly thereafter at theEuropean Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF).[28]
In late 2024, Demidov was chosen to theRussian senior national team for the annualChannel One Cup.[29] Registering five points across two games played, he was named the tournament's MVP as its top scorer.[30]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2021–22 | SKA Varyagi | MHL | 12 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | SKA-1946 | MHL | 13 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | SKA Saint Petersburg | KHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | SKA Varyagi | MHL | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | SKA-1946 | MHL | 41 | 19 | 43 | 62 | 16 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 6 | ||
| 2023–24 | SKA Saint Petersburg | KHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | SKA-Neva | VHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | SKA-1946 | MHL | 30 | 23 | 37 | 60 | 20 | 17 | 11 | 17 | 28 | 37 | ||
| 2024–25 | SKA Saint Petersburg | KHL | 65 | 19 | 30 | 49 | 22 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | ||
| 2024–25 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| KHL totals | 71 | 19 | 30 | 49 | 22 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | ||||
| NHL totals | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Russia | HG18 |  | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | |
| 2022 | Russia | EYOF |  | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| Junior totals | 9 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 | ||||
| Award | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| KHL | ||
| All-Star Game | 2022,2025 | [31][32] |
| MHL | ||
| All-Star Game | 2023 | [33] |
| Most Valuable Player | 2023, 2024 | [34] |
| Kharlamov Cup | 2024 | [35] |
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Montreal Canadiens first round draft pick 2024 | Succeeded by |