The Montreal Canadiens will be missing one of their key forwards for the next two to four weeks due to a lower-body injury.
On Tuesday, the Canadiens shared that Ivan Demidov will be sidelined with the injury, which was discovered after he sat out Monday’s practice under the guise of a therapy session.
Despite only playing two games this season, Demidov has already contributed a goal and an assist. The specifics of his injury remain undisclosed, but it is noted that the Russian player had previously missed practice time following a shot block with his foot during a pre-season game against the Ottawa Senators on Sept. 21 in Trois-Rivières, Que.
Last season, the 20-year-old Demidov showcased his talent by leading all NHL rookies with 62 points, including 19 goals and 43 assists in 82 games. His outstanding performance earned him a spot as a finalist for the Calder Trophy after being chosen fifth overall by Montreal in the 2024 NHL draft.
Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis remains optimistic about the team’s performance despite Demidov’s absence, emphasizing the depth and talent present in the lineup. St. Louis expressed confidence in the team’s ability to compensate for the loss of Demidov and continue their strong play.
In the absence of Demidov, Kirby Dach has stepped in to fill the gap on the second line alongside centre Alex Newhook and winger Juraj Slafkovsky. Forward Florian Xhekaj has also been added to the lineup ahead of the team’s home opener.
The Canadiens, with a current record of 1-0-1, are gearing up to face the Carolina Hurricanes in a highly anticipated rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference final. Carolina emerged victorious in that series, eventually clinching the Stanley Cup over the Vegas Golden Knights.
