Picture this: the Bell Centre’s lights blazing, Ivan Demidov gliding across the ice, stick dancing, defenders scattered in his wake. The crowd surges every time the puck finds him, anticipation thick in the air—yet, just as the tension reaches a fever pitch, Demidov is called to the bench. The camera lingers on his face, a flash of confusion and frustration, as another shift ends far too soon for Montreal’s most electrifying rookie. It’s a scene that’s becoming all too familiar, and it’s ignited a firestorm of debate that now stretches far beyond Quebec.

Across the NHL, fans and analysts alike are asking the same burning question: why is Ivan Demidov, the league’s most productive rookie forward, consistently seeing less ice time than his peers? The numbers are impossible to ignore. Despite leading all freshmen with 19 points in 24 games, Demidov’s average minutes trail behind a long list of names—Beckett Sennecke, Emmitt Finnie, Ryan Greene, Jimmy Snuggerud, and more—players who, by almost every measure, haven’t matched his impact or creativity. Even within the Canadiens’ own locker room, the gap is glaring. Jake Evans, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Zachary Bolduc routinely log 16 to 18 minutes a night, while Demidov watches from the bench, waiting for his next chance to shine.

The spotlight, once reserved for Demidov’s dazzling offensive highlights, has shifted to Martin St-Louis and his polarizing management of Montreal’s young star. Each game, each shift, each decision is dissected in real time on social media, sports talk radio, and Reddit threads. The debate is no longer just about ice time—it’s about the future of a franchise desperate for offense and the wisdom of limiting its most dynamic weapon. Some analysts call it caution, others call it a mistake. For many fans, it’s simply incomprehensible.

What makes the situation even more perplexing is Demidov’s defensive growth. Far from being a liability, he’s shown a solid awareness in his own zone, rarely making costly mistakes. Yet, the leash remains short. Every time Montreal falls behind, the question echoes through the arena: why isn’t Demidov on the ice when the team needs a spark?

The frustration is mounting, and the stakes are rising. As comparisons to other NHL rookies grow louder, and as the Canadiens’ offensive struggles persist, the pressure on St-Louis to adjust his strategy intensifies. Will the coach finally unleash Demidov, allowing his ice time to reflect his production? Or will the cautious approach continue, risking both the player’s development and the team’s playoff hopes?

For now, the debate rages on, fueled by every shift, every stat, every missed opportunity. The answer, it seems, is just out of reach—but one thing is certain: the longer Demidov’s talent is kept on a short leash, the louder the calls for change will become. Montreal’s future may well depend on how this story unfolds.

Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov

Photo credit: RG

Ivan Demidov, the Montreal Canadiens, Martin St-Louis, and the management of ice time are back at the center of discussion following yesterday’s difficult game.

This debate is growing even louder with comparisons being made across the NHL. Once again, the Demidov ice-time situation. The numbers speak for themselves, and they’re sparking reactions throughout the hockey community.

The list of rookies who play more than Ivan Demidov is long, even though he leads all NHL freshmen with 19 points in 24 games.

Here are the names who play more than Demidov:

“NHL rookie forwards averaging more time on ice than Ivan Demidov (minimum 20 games played):

– Beckett Sennecke
– Emmitt Finnie
– Ryan Greene
– Jimmy Snuggerud
– Ben Kindel
– Easton Cowan
– Arseny Gritsyuk

Ivan Demidov leads all rookies with 19 points in 24 games.”

– Habs On Reddit

Even within his own locker room, the differences are striking. Jake Evans, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Zachary Bolduc often get between 16 and 18 minutes per game, which raises a real question among fans.

A decision from Martin St-Louis that’s drawing wide reaction

Yet the young Russian remains one of the few Canadiens forwards capable of creating something on every shift, and many no longer understand why he stays on the bench so often when the Montreal Canadiens need a goal.

In addition, in my opinion, his defensive play is quite solid, and I don’t think he makes many mistakes in his own zone. Some analysts are even calling it overly cautious management. To me, it’s clear that Montreal cannot afford to limit this kind of talent while the team is desperately looking for offense.

For many, if Martin St-Louis’ decision doesn’t change soon, the topic will come back even stronger. And honestly, I think this debate will continue as long as the young player’s usage doesn’t match his production.

I truly believe an adjustment could help the entire group.