It is definitely time for the KHL season to end so that Ivan Demidov can make the jump to the NHL and join the Montreal Canadiens.

Ivan Demidov is No. 1 on trusted scout's drafted prospects list

His usage this season with SKA Saint Petersburg has been strange, to say the least, all with the obvious goal of punishing him for wanting to leave the KHL.

Despite everything, with his 49 points, including 19 goals in 63 games, he leads his team’s scoring column.

After major reports from insider Elliotte Friedman, former Canadien Andrei Kovalenko revealed that young Demidov is doing everything necessary to maximize his chances of success once he arrives in Montreal.

A Former Montreal Canadiens Player Confirms Ivan Demidov’s Intentions

The excellent site RG.org recently interviewed former Montreal Canadiens player Andrei Kovalenko.

While the interview mainly focused on his son Nikolai, the topic of Ivan Demidov was also discussed.

Kovalenko, who played 51 games for the Habs in the 1995-96 season after being part of the trade that sent Patrick Roy to Colorado, knows exactly what he’s talking about.

He knows the city and believes that the 5th overall pick in the 2024 draft will find success there, both on and off the ice.

To prove that Demidov is taking his arrival in the city very seriously, Kovalenko revealed that the young prospect has already been taking French lessons for quite some time.

Wow!

“No one knows for sure if he will succeed or not.

His status as a top scorer proves that he wants to be the best.

He is also intelligent; he is already learning French, which is a good sign.

We all want to see him succeed and become one of the top players in the National League.”

– Andrei Kovalenko

This is indeed an excellent clue about the true intentions of young Ivan Demidov. This small gesture speaks volumes about the young man’s values and attitude.

It is almost certain that he will be a fan favorite from the moment he debuts with the team, especially if he throws in a few French words here and there.

This is not the first time we’ve heard that Demidov is learning French.

The site RG.org reported this fact in September 2024.