Ivan Demidov’s NHL Journey Began at Age 12
Ivan Demidov has officially signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens, but his journey to this milestone began much earlier—back when he was still a middle schooler. His agent, Dan Milstein, shared on *The Sick Podcast* that he first scouted Demidov at just 12 years old.
“I met him and his family when he was just 12,” Milstein said. “Normally, I don’t sign players until they’re 16 or 17. But that year, we also met Artyom Levshunov and Ivan Demidov. I had to jump on a plane, watch him play, meet him, and sign him. This has been about seven years in the making. I can’t wait to see him finally wear that Canadiens jersey and take his first NHL shift.”
Now 19, Demidov finalized his contract with the Canadiens on Wednesday after reaching an agreement to leave his KHL team, SKA St. Petersburg, following a contract termination.
His NHL contract takes effect immediately and runs through the 2026–27 season, opening the door for him to make his debut in the remaining regular-season games—or even the playoffs. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Demidov’s work permit is expected soon, with a potential debut as early as Monday. He’ll wear No. 93 on his jersey.
“Most likely, I’ll have time to play in the regular season for Montreal,” Demidov said. “My goal is to adapt quickly to this style of hockey and prove what I can do.”
The Canadiens selected Demidov fifth overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. He recently led SKA St. Petersburg with 49 points in 65 games, breaking Kirill Kaprizov’s U20 record for most points in a single KHL season. He also earned three KHL Rookie of the Month honors during his standout year.
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