Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman mentioned on Saturday Night’s Headlines that members of the Montreal Canadiens staff, including general manager Kent Hughes, were traveling to Russia to check out one of their top prospects, Ivan Demidov.
For those who don’t know, Demidov, drafted fifth overall by the Canadiens in 2024, plays with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL.
After winning Rookie of the Month in September with eight points in ten games, the talented prospect saw his ice time decrease in October, sometimes playing only three minutes a night.
Although Demidov has not spoken publicly about the unfolding situation, SKA head coach Roman Rotenberg is accusing North American agents and journalists of overanalyzing his team decisions.
Related: Intrigue thickens for Canadiens’ KHL prospect
Recently, he went further, saying that North Americans believe they can dictate players’ careers in the KHL, and that this is one of the biggest problems in the league every season.
Considering Demidov is one of the top trending topics on KHL game nights, it’s no surprise to learn through Friedman that the Canadiens will form a group and travel to Russia to check out the one of their best hopes.
Related: Canadiens: Demidov punished?
According to the NHL insider, this move was always part of the plan to monitor him and check on him.
However, this visit will not satisfy fans as many Montreal fans are calling for the club to buy out Demidov’s KHL contract and bring him to North America before limited opportunities hamper his development.
As this situation is so fluid, it is a topic that many people in the hockey community are following, so stay tuned for any further updates.
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