Montreal is reeling today as the Ivan Demidov hype train screeches to a halt — and violently. In a stunning shake-up that has rocked the Canadiens fanbase, the 19-year-old phenom has been DEMOTED off the top power-play unit after a disastrous night against the Boston Bruins that exposed massive cracks in the Habs’ special teams.
The Canadiens went 0-for-7 on the man advantage — a meltdown that forced coach Martin St. Louis to make the toughest call of Demidov’s young NHL career. The fifth-overall pick has now been bumped to the second unit, a move that shocked fans who only weeks ago saw St. Louis praising Demidov as a “game-changer” after his electric performance against Vancouver.
But good times don’t last in the NHL…
And in Montreal? They evaporate even faster.
The new power-play shuffle has pushed Zachary Buluk into Demidov’s former spot on PP1 — a clear sign the coaching staff wants immediate results and is running out of patience. For Demidov, the message is impossible to miss: produce, or sit back and watch someone else do it.
This comes at a brutal moment for the rookie. Despite sitting third on the team in points, Demidov’s ice time has been mysteriously limited all season, raising huge questions about the Canadiens’ player development strategy. Are they protecting him? Mismanaging him? Or simply expecting superstar results overnight?
One thing is certain:
This demotion hits hard — and hits publicly.
Demidov now faces the toughest challenge of his North American career. With fewer touches, fewer scoring opportunities, and fewer minutes with the team’s top weapons, the pressure is officially on. Montreal’s season hangs in the balance, and the spotlight on Demidov has never been harsher.
Can the rookie fight his way back onto PP1?
Or is this the start of a longer slide down the depth chart?
The next few games will tell the story — but for now, one thing is clear:
Ivan Demidov just got his first REAL taste of NHL adversity…
and the hockey world is watching his every move.
