Montreal Canadiens' Ivan Demidov (93) skates with the puck as Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal (11)pursues during the third period in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

By The Canadian Press

Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov out 2-4 weeks with lower-body injury

Oct 6, 2026 | 8:52 AM

MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens will carry on without one of their top forwards for the next two to four weeks.

The Canadiens announced Tuesday that Ivan Demidov is out with a lower-body injury after missing Monday’s practice for what the team initially called a therapy day.

Demidov has a goal and an assist in two games this season. How the injury occurred was not disclosed, but the skilled Russian forward also missed practice time after blocking a shot with his foot in a pre-season game against the Ottawa Senators on Sept. 21 in Trois-Rivières, Que.

The 20-year-old Demidov led all NHL rookies with 62 points last season, scoring 19 goals and adding 43 assists in 82 games, and was a finalist for the Calder Trophy. Montreal selected him fifth overall in the 2024 NHL draft.

“I don’t think it impacts the way we’re going to play, and if anything it gives opportunity to somebody else to make some plays and I feel like we have the depth for that,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said.

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“The way our lines are shaped, I think we have depth down all of them, and we can come in waves, and I’m confident that we can keep going, knowing that we lost a pretty good piece.”

Kirby Dach took Demidov’s place on the second line next to centre Alex Newhook and winger Juraj Slafkovsky, while forward Florian Xhekaj entered the lineup ahead of Tuesday’s home opener.

The Canadiens (1-0-1) host the Carolina Hurricanes in a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference final. Carolina downed Montreal in five games en route to winning the Stanley Cup over the Vegas Golden Knights.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 6, 2026.

The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov out 2-4 weeks with lower-body injury

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