IT IS DONE: Montreal Canadiens Star Ivan Demidov Stuns Fans and Leaves Head Coach Speechless With Major Announcement Concerning Future
Montreal, QC – In a jaw-dropping development that has left fans in shock and head coach Martin St. Louis momentarily speechless, Montreal Canadiens rising star Ivan Demidov made a major announcement regarding his future — and it’s one that no one saw coming.
During a post-practice media session on Monday afternoon, Demidov, the 2023 first-round draft pick and one of the team’s most electrifying young forwards, took the podium with a calm demeanor and dropped a bombshell: he will be stepping away from the NHL temporarily to return to Russia for personal and professional development reasons.
“I’ve made a very difficult decision,” Demidov said. “After deep conversations with my family and advisors, I feel this is the right time for me to grow both as a person and as a player back home.”
While Demidov emphasized this is not a retirement or a permanent exit, the sudden nature of the decision reportedly caught even Canadiens management off guard. Head Coach St. Louis, visibly stunned, said only, “We support Ivan 100 percent. He’s an exceptional talent and person. We didn’t expect this, but we respect his decision.”
Fans quickly flooded social media with reactions ranging from support and heartbreak to confusion and speculation. Demidov has been a fan favorite since joining the Habs, known for his dynamic skating, vision, and scoring touch — all of which have contributed to his standout rookie season.
The Canadiens organization has not yet confirmed the logistics of his departure or if they will retain his NHL rights during his time abroad.
More updates are expected in the coming days, but for now, one thing is clear: Ivan Demidov’s announcement has shaken the hockey world — and left a void in Montreal that won’t be easily filled.
