Montreal Canadiens' Ivan Demidov hits rock bottom after social media controversy

At the 2024 NHL draft, the Canadiens hit a home run by drafting Ivan Demidov at the 5th overall pick. The 18-year-old forward is currently playing for the SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL and had a lot of success in the first month of the season. He was named rookie of the month after an eight-point tally in 10 games.

It's not unusual for players drafted in the NHL who are evolving in the KHL to be treated differently by their coaches. We often see these players get benched during games, as their development isn't a priority for the KHL. That seems to be Demidov's case.

Despite his great performances and Evgeny Kuznetsov's injury, Demidov's time on the ice is constantly dropping, causing multiple Canadiens fans to worry about Demidov's development. 

In the first 10 games of the season, Demidov's ice time has ranged from seven to 14 minutes, but last game, he was only on the ice for 4:07.

Today, he is listed on the lineup as the 13th forward.

Here's what the fans are thinking about this situation:

Even Demidov himself seems to be tired of all this. According to HFTV, the player liked a comment on Instagram that supported the idea of him leaving the SKA:

After all this, fans are hoping that either Geoff Molson, the Habs' owner, or Kent Hughes, the general manager, gets him out of the KHL and brings him to North America. 

There's no doubt that it would be beneficial for his development. As of now, Demidov is set to come to Montreal after the current season, but if this circus continues, the Canadiens could be forced to make a move.