Honestly, I’m really excited at the idea of seeing Ivan Demidov come to North America for the 2025-2026 season. He’s one of the most promising players the Habs have drafted in a long time, and he could make an immediate impact in Montreal.

Right now, he’s playing his final games with SKA St. Petersburg, and his head coach, Roman Rotenberg, doesn’t seem too thrilled about his departure, which might happen sooner than expected.

This season, Demidov has been bounced between the first line, the fourth, and even the press box.. and it might not just be about performance.

Recently, a rumor circulated that he wouldn’t be allowed to leave SKA if the team didn’t win the playoffs.

When he was asked about it, his cold response said a lot about the tension between him and his coach.

No need to panic, because from a regulatory standpoint, his team can’t stop him from joining Montreal after May 31.

Ivan Demidov’s Days in the KHL Are Numbered

His time in the KHL is coming to an end, and he’s likely to (finally) sign a contract with Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens within a few weeks at most.

Demidov will play a key role as soon as he arrives in Montreal. He still has a few regular season games left and then the KHL playoffs.

I’m looking forward to seeing how his departure unfolds and what comes next.

Here’s the main thing to remember: yes, what’s happening right now between Demidov and his head coach is concerning and unfortunate, but it’s almost over.

Barring a huge surprise, the Montreal Canadiens’ 5th overall pick in 2024 should sign a contract here very soon.