In a surprising twist, a trade between the Montreal Canadiens and New Jersey Devils involving Ivan Demidov’s friend has been suggested, sparking speculation across the hockey world.

While details remain scarce, reports indicate that the Canadiens are considering a deal centered around a forward in exchange for a Devils defenseman, with Demidov’s involvement raising eyebrows. The suggestion has led to widespread debate among fans, with many questioning how a personal connection could factor into a potential trade.

While Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes has denied any active discussions, he did not completely rule out the possibility of a deal, leaving the door open for further speculation. The Devils, meanwhile, appear open to moving a defenseman if the right offer comes along, making this a potential win-win scenario for both teams—if the rumored connection is addressed.

As the trade deadline approaches, the intrigue continues to build, with fans anxiously awaiting any updates on this unusual and highly discussed potential deal.

According to two sources, the Montreal Canadiens should seriously consider acquiring one of Ivan Demidov’s friends.

This wouldn’t be a first in the NHL, as Chicago did something similar in 2015 by bringing in Viktor Tikhonov to help facilitate Artemi Panarin’s arrival.

Two of Demidov’s teammates at SKA Saint Petersburg are drawing attention in this regard, Zakhar Bardakov and Arseny Gritsyuk.

Bardakov belongs to the Colorado Avalanche, while Gritsyuk is property of the New Jersey Devils.

These are two teams that likely aren’t strongly committed to keeping these young players, but they could be far more useful to the Habs, or at least one of them could be.

In a potential depth trade with Colorado or New Jersey around the draft, the Canadiens could target one of these two players, not just for Demidov but for several other reasons, including adding offensive depth, especially if Joel Armia and Christian Dvorak leave this summer.

Expert Igor Eronko believes Gritsyuk would be a more interesting option than Bardakov, whom he considers offensively limited.

Gritsyuk, on the other hand, is fast, skilled with the puck, and could fit in well with the team if his contract in Russia expires this summer.

Currently, the Canadiens have no players from the same country as Demidov in their lineup or prospect pool, so acquiring a friend of his could be a smart strategy to help with his adjustment to North America.

Acquiring Ivan Demidov’s Close Friend, Arseny Gritsyuk, from the Devils, a Growing Idea

Kent Hughes will have to decide whether this move is worth pursuing.

This idea was brought up before the NHL trade deadline, though it obviously didn’t materialize, but it could be seriously explored by Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton during the summer.

Do you like this idea?

We know that the Montreal Canadiens, Kent Hughes, and the New Jersey Devils have a strong trade history together, so could Arseny Gritsyuk be the next Habs acquisition from New Jersey?

Arseny Gritsyuk, 24 years old, is a 6-foot, 194-pound forward who has put up an impressive 42 points in 47 KHL games this season with SKA.