Ivan Demidov shortlisted for KHL Rookie of the Year following strong season with SKA St. Petersburg

Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov was a finalist for the Rookie of the Year award from the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) after a breakout season with SKA St. Petersburg. The 19-year-old fifth-overall pick of the Canadiens in 2024 opened eyes with his stability and maturity on offence well over his years in Russia's top-level pro league before coming to North America. Ivan Demidov's KHL Rookie of the Year nod tops an impressive 2024–25 campaign that demonstrated his scoring game and readiness for the professional leagues. With 19 tallies and 30 helpers for 49 points in 65 SKA St. Petersburg games, the Russian right wing supplemented that with three scores and five points in six playoff games. Demidov's quick ascent earned him a summons to the Montreal Canadiens for April. He notched one goal and one assist in two regular-season games and added two other assists in five playoff games during the Canadiens' first-round series against the Washington Capitals in his first experience with NHL play. The Seattle Kraken's Semyon Vyazovoi and Nashville's Yegor Surin have both impressive resumes in the KHL. Vyazovoi, drafted in the sixth round of the 2021 NHL Draft, had a strong goal record for Salavat Yulaev Ufa, while Surin, Nashville's first-round pick, scored seven goals and 14 points in 41 games for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, establishing himself as a two-way presence in the KHL. Both players are among an increasing number of Russian prospects entering the scene almost immediately at both domestic and overseas levels. With Ivan Demidov already producing on the NHL level and earning international recognition, the Montreal Canadiens have cause for enthusiasm regarding his potential. His electrifying skating, top-pick puck-handling, and exceptional hockey sense make him one of the best young prospects in the Canadiens' system.Also read: Alex Ovechkin in game 1 shining, young Ivan Demidov cracking under pressureWhether or not he wins the KHL Rookie of the Year award, Demidov is already making noise among fans and pundits as a game-changer during Montreal's rebuild.