After missing considerable time with a lower-body injury, the Habs prospect could return to on-ice participation soon.
Montreal Canadiens’ fifth-overall selection in the 2024 draft, Ivan Demidov, has cleared medicals with SKA St Petersburg of the KHL.
The news was revealed when the KHL took to their social media accounts to post a picture of Demidov working out and the caption “Medicals: passed.” This is a good development given that the young Russian missed the end of MHL playoffs last year with a lower-body injury. This is the same injury that also interfered with his participation at the SKA development camp and the start of the main camp.
In the playoff run, Demidov tallied 11 goals and 28 points in 17 games before sustaining the injury. He will likely spend the year in the KHL, given that the Canadiens front office has spoken with SKA St Petersburg about his development. That said if he does not have a roster spot for consistent minutes, the Canadiens may negotiate a loan.
Demidov resumed training five days ago, and while he has cleared medicals, it does not guarantee that he is 100 percent healthy, but fans should expect him back on the ice soon.
