Skip to content
Your daily dose of hockey
Ivan Demidov: despite his three-point game, it seems he has lost his spot on the top line.
Credit: Getty Images

Ivan Demidov is having a big year with SKA. The forward, who has 35 points in 44 games this season, manages to shine even if his ice time hasn’t always been there.

He is really, really loaded with talent.

That said, in recent weeks, we have seen him in a much more prominent role. He is playing much more… and unsurprisingly, the points are following, having scored three in his last game.

His coach even (finally) praised him publicly.

But evidently, his strong performance and the compliments from his coach do not seem to have been enough to keep him on the first line. Indeed, in a video published by SKA, Demidov is seen training in a blue jersey… and the blue jersey means he has been training on the second line.

The club only plays on Tuesday, which means that could still change… but Roman Rotenberg seems to want to (again) stir things up.

It should be noted that despite Demidov’s recent individual successes, SKA is struggling lately. During the team’s last game, for example, Demidov’s three points were not enough as the club lost.

The team’s record of 25-15-5 is not satisfactory considering the high expectations. Unless there is a real meltdown, it will be enough to make the playoffs… but SKA will not enter as a favorite. However, it should be remembered that even a premature elimination from the club would not bring Demidov to Montreal this season.

Returning to the kid, this means he continues to move around from line to line within his team. He clearly seems to be a piece of the solution for SKA… and even if he remains in the top-6, he seems to be on the verge of losing his spot on the first line even though the last few days could not have gone better for him.

I wonder how Demidov is taking this, especially since meanwhile, in Montreal, the lines are more stable than ever…


In Brief

— News from the Victory.

— Note.

— What a photo.

— A name to watch next winter.

More Content