Some things in hockey can be taught, others cannot.
Skating, passing and turning (almost) only Ivan Demidov can do it on the rink, you can’t show it to a player. A guy either has it…or he doesn't. And in most cases, if you are not Demidov, you do not have this.
Since Demidov was transferred to the first power play — and Juraj Slafkovski replaced Zachary Bolduc in the slot — the Canadiens are averaging about four goals per game.
Despite being just 19, the Russian forward is already an important cog in Montreal's attack. He scored five points on the power play and seven points at even strength. Imagine if he could rely on better teammates than Oliver Kapanen and Alex Newhook at five-on-five.
When it comes to Ivan Demidov's start to the season, two statistics impress me.
1. 11 of Demidov’s 12 points are primary goals or assists; it only has one secondary gear.
This means Demidov has only made one secondary assist this season. If he gets a point, it's because he puts it into himself or makes a great pass to a teammate who finishes his play.
2. According to AdvancedHockey Advanced statistical models of statistics, Ivan Demidov defends better than attacks. #EVOffence #EVDefence
Essentially, this stat map tells us that Demidov has had a positive impact on the Canadiens' scoring chances since the start of the season, but he's having an even bigger impact on the fewer scoring chances his club is providing when he's on the ice.
Of course, this does not change the fact that he (whore) dominates in goals, points and primary assists than the rest of his teammates. Demidov doesn't need 1001 chances to get on the scoresheet.
But the point is that Demidov's defense is not bad. In fact, it's quite the opposite! He's great without the puck, and when he's on the ice the Habs are in better shape than when he's not.
Welcome, Mr. Demidov.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/QbbtqwOnqR
– JFresh (@JFreshHockey) November 5, 2025
Re-reading these last lines, I naturally wondered why Martin Saint-Louis used Demidov for an average of only 14 minutes per game (the average time of a fourth-line player, according to Advanced hockey statistics).
Demidov grabunpredictable with the puck and more reliable than his teammates on average without the puck. I think it's time to trust him even more.
Since the start of the campaign, Demidov has one more point than Matthew Schaefer; If he can be switched to a stronger center than Oliver Kapanen and gets three or four more minutes of ice time per game, he'll be hard to miss THAT Favorite for the Calder Trophy.
after a while
– Good news.
Kayden Goulet rides in full gear this morning in Brossard@DLCoulisses #GoHabsGo #Gule #NHL pic.twitter.com/qO2igOPx1R
– Patrick Guillet (@PatGuillet) November 6, 2025
– Big news in Toronto.
Big news in Toronto. https://t.co/nnR7Hl7BQS
– Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) November 6, 2025
– Preview of Devils.
Devils this morning
Noesen Hughes Bratt
Meyer Hischier Mercer
Palat Glass Gritsyuk
Cotter Pond Glendening
Siegenthaler Hamilton
Dillon Hughes
Cholovsky German
Mark current
Allen
* not seeing Connor Brown on the ice– Mike Morreale (@mikemorrealeNHL) November 6, 2025
