We’ve reached the top of the Montreal Canadiens prospect mountain, with extremely talented forward Ivan Demidov reigning supreme over an impressive list of young players.
As a reminder, to qualify for our rankings, Habs prospects must under 24 years old and have fewer than 75 NHL games under their belt. In other words, Lane Hutson is not included, as he has already established himself as a top defenceman in the league, rather than a prospect. The rankings are based on the votes from almost 10,000 Canadiens fans.
If you would like to check out the prospect profiles that have already been published, scroll to the bottom of the article.
1. Ivan Demidov, 19, Right Wing/Centre, Shoots Right, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL), 6’1″, 192 lb. Picked 5th overall in 2024.
Even though Demidov’s KHL usage was questionable to say the least, with recently fired head coach Roman Rotenberg seemingly punishing the Canadiens prospect any time he found momentum, it must be said that he enjoyed a very successful season from a production standpoint while playing for SKA Saint Petersburg.
Frequent demotions to the fourth line, paired with just a few minutes of ice time per game, mitigated Demidov’s ability to generate offence, but it did not stop him from finding the back of the net.
On top of finishing the season as the team’s best forward, with 19 goals and 30 assists in 65 games to his credit, Demidov flourished in the playoffs. It wasn’t a long playoff run, but the talented winger managed to once again lead his team in scoring, with five points in six games.
In the end, despite having to deal with a less-than-ideal development season from a coaching standpoint, the fact that he rose above the white noise goes to show he’s mature beyond his years, which should serve him well as he begins his NHL career in earnest.
Speaking of which, Demidov was given a taste of NHL action once his KHL duties were over, and as most Montreal Canadiens fans know, it did not take him long to make his mark. He provided a primary assist in his first period of NHL action, setting up speedster Alex Newhook for his 15th goal of the year. He then sent the Bell Centre faithful into a frenzy, scoring his first goal just a few moments later.
It’s always important to keep realistic expectations for prospects, especially those who must cross the Atlantic Ocean before donning an NHL jersey, but Demidov’s first game essentially blew the doors off the hype train.
Ivan Demidov’s Time In The NHL
It was a baptism by fire for Demidov, as he was facing older competition with much more NHL experience, while also having to adapt to a new team, not to mention a bevy of other factors that come with joining a team toward the end of the season.
The difficult assignment was particularly evident during the playoffs, where open ice is at a premium.
On the surface, it appeared that Demidov had faded to a certain extent, a perfectly normal result from a young player thrust into a complicated situation, however, further analysis revealed that his underlying numbers in the playoffs were quite encouraging, especially when he played alongside Newhook and Jake Evans. The only time his possession stats took a hit was when he was on the ice with Patrik Laine.
It was a very limited sample size, but it did speak to his ability to quickly absorb information and put it into practice. It was particularly noteworthy given that the Washington Capitals carried the play throughout the series.
There were a few issues with his playoff performance, including his lack of shots at 5v5, but that’s a problem that is solved via a healthy dose of experience, as most young players tend to defer to their older teammates as they begin their NHL careers.
While the 5v5 production was nowhere to be found, Demidov did set up two powerplay goals, and was a significant reason why the Canadiens managed to score on 33 percent of their man-advantage opportunities (5/15).
What’s Next For Montreal Canadiens Prospect Ivan Demidov?
This is the section in which I usually preach patience, as most prospects require a grace period before they can be counted upon to provide a positive impact on a nightly basis.
But just like Lane Hutson before him, Demidov’s excellence speaks to a player with the type of skill set necessary to immediately excel in the NHL.
His obsession with improving his play, as evidenced by the endless stream of clips showing him hard at work in Brossard, should give him a leg up on his counterparts heading into training camp. There are no guarantees in professional sports, but his dedication to the craft is likely to earn him a heightened level of respect from head coach Martin St-Louis, which, in turn, should lead to ample opportunities in the upcoming season.
The main sticking point when projecting his impact next season is tied into the team’s current glaring weakness, a lack of a bona fide No.2 centre. Between Newhook, Kirby Dach, and Zachary Bolduc, the Habs may be able to fill the gigantic hole in the lineup by committee, but it will surely add a wrinkle to the mix when discussing Demidov’s potential production.
We should also allow for a situation in which Demidov is not immediately used on the second line. St-Louis may decide to ease him into the lineup, as he did with Hutson when he assigned him to the third pairing to start his NHL career.
Ivan Demidov sets up Juraj Slafkovsky for a crucial goal to tie the game. #GoHabsGo
Lane Hutson also had an assist. pic.twitter.com/0mcbetrLAZ
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) April 28, 2025
Regardless of his initial usage, there’s no doubt Demidov represents one of the most talented players to ever be drafted by the Montreal Canadiens, a bold statement when we consider the glorious history of the franchise.
He’s the exact type of player fans have been demanding for the past two decades, a game-changing presence who has the ability to create high-danger scoring chances on a whim thanks to his elite creativity, vision, anticipation, puck handling, and innate offensive instincts.
Demidov won’t serve as the foundation of the rebuild, that job already belongs to Nick Suzuki, and he’s performed quite well considering the lack of support in the lineup.
However, there’s an excellent chance Demidov can follow in Hutson’s footsteps, pushing the Montreal Canadiens to the next level and transforming them from playoff hopefuls into legitimate contenders.
Previously Published 2025 Montreal Canadiens Prospect Articles:
Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.3 – Jacob Fowler
Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.2 – David Reinbacher
Montreal Canadiens Top Prospect Rankings – Final List
Do you agree or disagree with the Montreal Canadiens prospect rankings? Let us know in the comments below!
Montreal Canadiens and Ivan Demidov statistics via Elite Prospects
