The difference between Ivan Demidov and Alexander Nikishin, who could be leaving SKA

Ivan Demidov will likely finish his season in the VHL, the American League of Russia.

The Montreal Canadiens obviously own his rights in the NHL… and even if I have no doubt that the habs must work very hard to bring him to the city as soon as possible, we should not expect it to happen.

Why? Because he has a valid contract with SKA until May 31. And as long as the club wants to keep him, the habs can’t do anything.

But what we need to know is that during this time, SKA has a player named Alexander Nikishin, and he might be able to get out of his contract to sign in the NHL before May 31, 2025.

The Hurricanes could therefore succeed in bringing him in to finish the season.

Naturally, this rumor surrounding Demidov’s teammate forces many people to wonder what the difference is between the two SKA players.

And the answer is experience (so age, naturally) of the two guys.

Reminder: SKA is always more inclined to let guys go to North America when they have played 3, 4, 5 or 6 seasons with them. https://t.co/QhwKlsefFs
— Maxime Truman (@MaximeTruman) April 8, 2025

As my colleague Maxime Truman said this morning, the fact that Nikishin has been in the KHL since 2019-2020 and has hundreds of games in the Russian circuit means that SKA, his club since 2022, considers that he has paid his dues in Russia.

He therefore has more chances of having the right to go to the NHL a few weeks before the end of his contract in Russia. But nothing is certain, as Marco D’Amico reminds us.

Alexander Nikishin’s camp also trying to negotiate the early termination of his contract.
SKA is playing hardball, but sources indicate that he has more leverage, given his tenure and having “paid his dues”. https://t.co/mrk6YbPJEV
— Marco D’Amico (@mndamico) April 8, 2025

So Demidov, who has only one full year behind him in the KHL, must accept that SKA considers that he has done less for the club than his 23-year-old teammate.

This is why one of the two risks playing – in the short term – in the VHL… and the other, in the NHL.

in Overtime

– Dougie Hamilton back – as if by magic – in the first round? Possible.

Sheldon Keefe on if Dougie Hamilton could play in the first round: “I think there’s a chance.”
He’s skating on his own but they haven’t had discussions yet on him joining a team skate.
— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) April 8, 2025

– Interesting.

The news is starting to circulate (credit to 106.9 and Le Nouvelliste) – A classic winter game with LHJMQ matches #LHJMQ will likely be presented at the Trois-Rivières hippodrome next December.
The 4 teams from Centre du Québec will be part of it (SHA-SHE-VIC-DRU) 1/3
— Stephane Leroux (@StephRDSJunior) April 8, 2025

– News from CF Montréal.

Winter – even if we are officially in spring for more than two weeks – has not said its last word.
The #CFMTL will not go out to train today. The guys will stay in the gym.
The session planned for today will be rescheduled for Thursday, which was a day off initially.… pic.twitter.com/InhXXmAHRw
— Maxime Truman (@MaximeTruman) April 8, 2025

– His death continues to spark conversation.

Remembering Greg Millen: The laughs, the stories, the pranks and the man who made his colleagues feel like family.https://t.co/D3jvFkJNfd https://t.co/D3jvFkJNfd
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 8, 2025