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Contract: Ivan Demidov and the “chaos” of Russia
Charles-Alexis Brisebois
Contract: Ivan Demidov and the “chaos” of Russia
Credit: This year, following Ivan Demidov was something. He could play 18 minutes on a first line and get two points… but still be the 13th forward in the next game. Roman Rotenberg did not make friends in Quebec in recent months, let’s say. Even if Ivan Demidov is the best player of SKA, he never […]
This year, following Ivan Demidov was something.

He could play 18 minutes on a first line and get two points… but still be the 13th forward in the next game. Roman Rotenberg did not make friends in Quebec in recent months, let’s say.

Even if Ivan Demidov is the best player of SKA, he never knew what to expect.

We know (we doubt, at least) that all this is related to his contract. He is at the end of his agreement in Russia and every time he played little, we must think it was a negotiating technique.

The KHL is special for that.

And we will also repeat what we have often said in recent months: even if his club is one game away from being eliminated in the playoffs, we should not expect to see him come finish the season in the NHL for that.

We have often said it and Kevin Dubé (JdeQ) wrote a paper in which he confirmed that this scenario is “unlikely” at the moment.

Because his contract ends on May 31 and KHL clubs rarely let their players go before free agency, Demidov should not finish the year in Montreal.

Why? Because his club will not let him go, but also because he can go play somewhere else than in the KHL to finish the season. SKA has options not to send him to Montreal.

In Demidov’s case, what plays against him is that he is still eligible for the MHL. This complicates his file.

What needs to be mentioned is that at the moment, without an agreement for transfers between the KHL and the NHL, it’s chaos. And that’s what an agent with hands in the deal is saying.

So if SKA does not want to negotiate and can send Demidov to the junior instead, it explains everything. And we can say that we should never bet against Kent Hughes, but…

It would have been pleasant for the habs fans to see Demidov take the last remaining place in the club’s offensive lineup, but it won’t happen. It will have to wait until next year.

Even if it would have been fun…


in Overtime

– Note.

– The Canadiens needed a bit of luck. [TVAS]

– Wow.

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