It’s a pretty good time to be a Montreal Canadiens fan.
With the Habs logging six straight wins, they now sit comfortably in a playoff spot. Meanwhile, captain Nick Suzuki recently became the first Montreal player to surpass 80 points in a season in nearly two decades. Plus, Cole Caufield’s still on track to hit 40 goals this year, a feat last accomplished by a Montreal player in 1994.
The cherry on top of all that?
On Tuesday, the Canadiens shocked the hockey world by signing their 2024 draft pick Ivan Demidov to a three-year deal, bringing him over from Russia to join the team this season — much earlier than anyone anticipated.
Strong reactions from fans quickly poured in, ranging from pure joy to straight-up shock.
Drafted fifth overall by Montreal last summer, Demidov’s hype comes from his unreal scoring touch — 19 goals and 49 points in 65 KHL games this season, topping the league’s U-20 record. Even with just 13:45 of ice time a game, he’s shown he’s a clutch playmaker, adding three goals in six playoff games, making him a legit star in the making for the Canadiens.
Some fans have even gone as far as trying to track which plane the 19-year-old forward is on, speculating that he should land in the city on Wednesday morning.
Unsurprisingly, many are eager to pick the Russian phenom up at the airport.
While Demidov has yet to suit up in the bleu, blanc, rouge, he’s already very popular at the Bell Centre. During Tuesday’s win over the Detroit Red Wings, an ovation broke out when his photo was shown on the Jumbotron.
Jerseys bearing his name are already being sold at the team store.
It’s safe to assume he can expect a warm welcome in his debut.
However, all of this excitement leads to one big question: When will the rookie sensation actually join the Canadiens’ lineup?
According to Montreal journalist Marco D’Amico, who broke the story of Demidov’s signing on Tuesday, “the current target date for Demidov’s NHL debut is likely Monday night against the Chicago Blackhawks.”
With only a few games left on the Canadiens’ calendar and a 96.8% chance of making the playoffs (according to oddsmakers at MoneyPuck), Demidov could see postseason action soon — pushing the youngster to adapt fast to the North American game. But even with the vibes sky-high, snagging the second wild card spot means a brutal first-round clash with the Eastern Conference’s top dog.
Still, one thing’s for sure: fans are ready to roar—and the Bell Centre’s about to get a whole lot louder.
