Why the Canadiens must increase ice time for Ivan Demidov

The Montreal Canadiens’ 2024 fifth-overall pick has been nothing short of spectacular in his rookie campaign, yet Ivan Demidov finds himself in a peculiar position. Despite ranking among the league’s top first-year players with 10 points through his first 12 games, the 19-year-old Russian phenom is averaging just 13:59 of ice time per game—good for only 13th on the team. For a franchise in the midst of a rebuild centered around developing elite young talent, the time has come to increase ice time for Ivan Demidov Montreal Canadiens’ most dynamic offensive weapon.

The disconnect between Demidov’s production and his deployment raises fundamental questions about how Montreal plans to maximize its investment in one of the draft’s most skilled forwards. While cautious management of a teenage rookie is understandable, Demidov has demonstrated the maturity, hockey IQ, and two-way awareness to handle significantly more responsibility. Every shift he takes shows a player ready for the next step, yet he continues to receive fewer minutes than veterans who simply don’t possess his game-breaking ability.

Why the Canadiens must increase ice time for Ivan Demidov

The statistics paint a compelling picture. Demidov has reached 10 points faster than any Montreal rookie since Stephan Lebeau accomplished the feat in 11 games during the 1989-90 season. He’s tied for the league lead among all rookies in scoring, achieving this milestone while playing significantly fewer minutes than most of his first-year peers. According to recent reports, players like Josh Anderson—a valuable physical presence but far from an elite playmaker—are receiving more even-strength opportunities than the teenager who has consistently tilted the ice in Montreal’s favor.

When Demidov steps onto the ice, the entire complexion of the game changes. His ability to handle pressure situations, draw multiple defenders, and create passing lanes in tight spaces gives his linemates exponentially more room to operate. Playing alongside fellow rookie Oliver Kapanen and Alex Newhook, Demidov has formed one of Montreal’s most effective trios, generating consistent offensive pressure and quality scoring chances.

The eye test confirms what the numbers suggest: Demidov doesn’t just accumulate points—he makes everyone around him better. His patience with the puck, combined with exceptional vision and soft hands, allows him to execute plays that few players on Montreal’s roster can even conceive. Whether it’s his spectacular backhand goal against Seattle on October 14, where he held onto the puck through traffic before finding an opening, or his ability to thread cross-ice passes through multiple defenders, Demidov operates on a different level.

Head coach Martin St. Louis faces a delicate balancing act between protecting a young player from the NHL’s grueling 82-game schedule and unleashing one of his most potent offensive weapons. However, as the Hockey Writers recently noted, keeping Demidov below 14 minutes per night might ultimately prove counterproductive to both his development and the team’s success. The Russian winger has shown remarkable composure under pressure, rarely panicking in defensive situations and consistently making intelligent decisions with and without the puck.

Demidov’s power play impact demands more opportunities

Perhaps nowhere has Demidov’s value been more evident than on special teams. After beginning the season on Montreal’s second power-play unit, his undeniable skill earned him a promotion to the top unit, where he’s become one of the team’s primary catalysts for puck movement. His presence has injected a new dimension of unpredictability into Montreal’s man-advantage setup, creating problems for penalty killers who must now account for another elite-level threat.

Demidov’s power-play toolkit is extensive. He possesses the deception to freeze defenders with shot fakes, the vision to identify passing lanes before they fully open, and the puck skills to maintain possession under heavy pressure. Working along the half-wall or in the bumper position, he’s shown an advanced understanding of power-play geometry, knowing precisely when to hold the puck for an extra second to create movement or when to release it quickly to maintain tempo.

The synergy between Demidov and sharpshooter Cole Caufield has been particularly noteworthy. Demidov’s willingness to be patient and his ability to manipulate defenders create those critical extra moments of time and space that elite shooters need. Ivan Demidov’s rookie season highlights with the Montreal Canadiens showcase a player whose hockey sense far exceeds his years, someone who understands the subtle rhythms that make power plays successful.

For a franchise that has struggled to find consistency on special teams in recent seasons, Demidov represents exactly the type of game-changing talent that can transform a mediocre power play into a feared unit. Yet even after his promotion, there remains room to increase his role. Running more plays through him, giving him additional opportunities to control zone entries, and allowing him to quarterback the power play would accelerate both his individual development and the unit’s overall effectiveness.

Montreal’s power play has noticeably improved since Demidov’s arrival on the top unit. Zone entries are cleaner, puck possession is more sustained, and the entire setup operates with greater purpose and organization. These improvements haven’t happened by accident—they’re the direct result of adding a player who processes the game at an elite level and possesses the technical skills to execute his vision.

The development case for expanding Demidov’s role

From a pure development perspective, sheltering Demidov too aggressively could actually slow his progression rather than protect it. Young players learn most effectively by facing challenges, by experiencing different game situations, and by working through adversity in real time. Every additional minute Demidov spends on the ice accelerates his adjustment to NHL speed, physicality, and tactical complexity.

The concerns about overexposing a 19-year-old to the rigors of an NHL season are valid, but they must be weighed against the reality that Demidov is demonstrably ready for more. He’s not struggling to keep pace with the game’s demands—quite the opposite. He’s thriving despite limited opportunities, which strongly suggests he could handle a significantly expanded role without compromising his performance or health.

Consider the trajectory of other Montreal youngsters who were entrusted with major responsibilities. Nick Suzuki assumed the captaincy at just 23 years old and has flourished under the weight of expectations. Ivan Demidov’s breakout performance powers Canadiens comeback demonstrates that when given opportunities in crucial situations, the young Russian delivers. Lane Hutson, himself a rookie defenseman, has praised Demidov’s work ethic and special talent, noting that “to see what he does every day is really impressive.”

Montreal’s rebuilding timeline aligns perfectly with gradually expanding Demidov’s responsibilities. The franchise isn’t competing for a Stanley Cup this season—they’re building toward sustained contention. In this context, prioritizing Demidov’s development by increasing his ice time serves both short-term and long-term objectives. In the immediate future, it improves the team’s offensive output and gives them a better chance to win games. Looking ahead, it accelerates the development of a player who projects as a cornerstone piece of the next great Canadiens team.

The path forward should include more offensive-zone starts, expanded power-play responsibilities, and crucially, more minutes in key moments of close games. These are the situations where young players develop confidence and learn to thrive under pressure. Demidov has already shown he doesn’t shrink in big moments—his game-tying goal against Seattle came with under three minutes remaining in regulation, exemplifying his clutch gene.

Comparing Demidov’s usage to other elite rookies

When examining how other top rookies around the league are being deployed, Montreal’s conservative approach with Demidov becomes even more puzzling. According to NHL.com’s recent rookie watch, comparable first-year players are receiving significantly more ice time while producing at similar or lower rates.

Detroit’s Emmitt Finnie, a seventh-round pick playing in a top-six role, is averaging 16:35 of ice time per game—nearly three minutes more than Demidov. While Finnie has been excellent in his own right with eight points through 12 games, his draft pedigree and pre-NHL resume pale in comparison to Demidov’s. Yet the Red Wings have shown confidence in giving their young forward substantial minutes alongside elite players like Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond.

Fraser Minten in Boston is averaging 13:10 per game while contributing four points, and he’s being utilized in crucial penalty-killing situations as a sign of trust from the coaching staff. Oliver Kapanen, Demidov’s own linemate in Montreal, receives 12:39 of ice time—just slightly less than Demidov despite producing at a lower rate. These comparisons aren’t meant to diminish other rookies’ accomplishments but rather to highlight that Demidov’s usage seems disproportionately conservative given his production and impact.

The league’s elite young players have historically been given expanded roles once they’ve proven they belong. Connor McDavid averaged over 18 minutes per game as an 18-year-old rookie. Auston Matthews received nearly 18 minutes in his first NHL season. While not every player can or should be compared to generational talents, Demidov’s skill level and early production suggest he belongs in conversations about premier young forwards.

Montreal’s coaching staff likely has specific reasons for their cautious approach—managing workload, protecting against defensive matchups, or gradually building confidence. However, the evidence increasingly suggests that these protective measures are no longer necessary, if they ever were. Demidov has proven his readiness for an expanded role through his production, his two-way responsibility, and his ability to impact games even with limited ice time.

The competitive imperative to maximize Demidov’s talent

Beyond development considerations, there’s a simple competitive logic to deploying your best players as much as possible. Montreal may be rebuilding, but every game matters for player development, team culture, and organizational momentum. When one of your most skilled forwards is receiving fewer minutes than clearly inferior offensive players, you’re making a conscious choice to be less competitive than you could be.

The Canadiens’ offense operates at its highest level when skill players are dictating pace and creating offensive pressure. Demidov brings creativity and playmaking ability that few others on the roster can match. His presence on the ice doesn’t just create scoring chances—it changes how opponents defend Montreal, forcing them to account for another elite-level threat and thereby creating space for teammates.

In tight games, Montreal should be leaning on Demidov more, not less. His composure and skill make him exactly the type of player coaches should trust in pressure-packed moments. Yet too often, he’s watching critical sequences from the bench while less dynamic players receive those opportunities. This approach doesn’t just limit Demidov’s impact—it potentially costs Montreal wins.

The decision to increase ice time for Ivan Demidov Montreal Canadiens’ rising star shouldn’t be viewed as risky or premature. Rather, it represents the natural progression for a player who has exceeded every reasonable expectation in his first month as a professional. He’s earned more ice time through his performance, his maturity, and his clear readiness for expanded responsibilities.

Brendan Gallagher, one of Montreal’s veteran leaders, has already recognized the special qualities Demidov brings. Speaking about teammate Jakub Dobes but in words that apply equally to Demidov, Gallagher noted: “He’s earned the responsibility and the opportunity to play more.” That same philosophy should guide the coaching staff’s approach to Demidov’s deployment moving forward.

As the season progresses and the sample size of Demidov’s excellence grows, maintaining his current ice time below 14 minutes per game will become increasingly difficult to justify. The Hockey Writers’ comprehensive analysis highlighted that Demidov is already one of the best forwards on the roster right now, not just a promising prospect for the future. That present-tense reality demands present-tense adjustments to his role.

The path forward for Montreal is clear: gradually expand Demidov’s even-strength minutes toward the 16-18 minute range, give him additional power-play opportunities, and trust him in key game situations. This approach balances the legitimate concerns about overworking a teenager with the equally valid recognition that he’s ready for more. The Canadiens have discovered something special in Demidov—a rare combination of skill, intelligence, and competitiveness that could define the franchise’s next era. Now it’s time to fully unleash that talent and see just how high his ceiling truly reaches. The decision to increase ice time for Ivan Demidov Montreal Canadiens’ future cornerstone isn’t just about this season—it’s about building the foundation for sustained success in the years ahead.