During the first intermission of Saturday’s game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Montreal Canadiens are planning a trip abroad to meet their 2024 first-round draft pick, Ivan Demidov.
This visit aims to assess the development of the fifth overall pick, something the team has intended to do since selecting the Russian forward. During the trip, expected to take place in the upcoming weeks or months, general manager Kent Hughes is likely to join. The primary focus will be observing Demidov’s performance and growth firsthand.
Interestingly, this visit coincides with Demidov experiencing reduced playing time with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL. Speculations suggest he may be hesitant to sign an extension with the team, while other accounts attribute his diminished ice time to internal competition for playing slots. Regardless, Demidov’s lessened ice time could be significant for both him and the Canadiens in relation to their 2024 draft pick.
At one point, it was reported that Demidov viewed himself as SKA’s 13th forward, anticipating a challenging season ahead. If the claims about his reluctance to extend his contract are tied to his reduced ice time, the upcoming visit will be quite revealing for Hughes and the Canadiens staff. Despite the decrease in playing time, Demidov has managed to score five goals and record 10 points in 17 games for SKA this season.
