Montreal will be without Ivan Demidov for at least the next two weeks after the young forward was ruled out with a lower-body injury. The Canadiens expect the 20-year-old to miss between two and four weeks, removing a key offensive piece just as the club opens its home schedule.
Demidov injured after Pittsburgh overtime loss
Demidov’s most recent appearance came Saturday in Montreal’s 6-5 overtime defeat against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He logged 16:03, scoring once and adding an assist in the high-scoring loss.
The Canadiens have opened the season at 1-0-1 and will host the Ottawa Senators in Tuesday’s home opener. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET, with coverage on RDS, TSN2, CARNHL and HHN.
What Montreal loses
- Demidov played all 82 regular-season games last year, producing 19 goals and 43 assists for 62 points.
- He led NHL rookies in assists and points, while his 20 power-play points also topped the rookie class.
- His 14 multi-point outings were tied for the most among rookies.
- He ranked second among rookies with seven power-play goals and placed sixth in rookie goal scoring.
Montreal selected Demidov fifth overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, and he has quickly become one of the club’s primary young playmakers. Across 86 NHL regular-season games, he has posted 21 goals and 45 assists, good for 66 points.
Playoff production already on his résumé
Demidov was also part of Montreal’s run to the Eastern Conference Final last spring. He registered three goals and six assists in 19 postseason games as the Canadiens reached the conference final before falling to the Carolina Hurricanes in five games.
Including that run, Demidov owns 11 points — three goals and eight assists — over 24 career Stanley Cup Playoff contests. Montreal will now need to cover those minutes and power-play touches while he recovers.
