Last month, at the NHL Entry Draft in Las Vegas, the Montreal Canadiens made a significant addition to their roster by selecting Russian forward Ivan Demidov. The pick, announced by legendary Canadian singer Celine Dion, was met with thunderous applause from the Canadiens' faithful.
Currently, Demidov is under contract with SKA St. Petersburg for one more season in the KHL. Montreal Canadiens General Manager Kent Hughes emphasized that while it would be beneficial for Demidov to play in the KHL for another year, the Canadiens are prepared to explore other options if he does not make the KHL roster.
With SKA St. Petersburg's training camp commencing on August 1st, the situation surrounding Demidov's immediate future remains fluid. If Demidov does not secure a spot on SKA's final roster before their regular season opener against Metallurg Magnitogorsk on September 5th, the Canadiens could potentially step in and negotiate his transfer to Montreal.
The hockey community will be keenly watching as events unfold, with the possibility of Demidov joining the Canadiens for the 2024-25 season adding an extra layer of excitement and anticipation for the team's prospects.