Demidov to wear No. 93 for the Canadiens
Published
Ivan Demidov will wear No. 93 for the Montreal Canadiens, the team announced on Wednesday.
In an unexpected late-season development, the Canadiens signed Demidov, 19, to a three-year entry-level contract Tuesday, less than 90 minutes after his KHL team said the mutual decision was made for the skilled forward to go to the NHL immediately. SKA Saint Petersburg in a social media post said it would retain his rights and Demidov would return “if he doesn't gain a foothold" in the top league in the world.
The fifth pick in the 2024 draft was SKA's leading scorer this season with 19 goals and 30 assists for 49 points in 65 games and widely considered the top young player not currently in the NHL.
With a few games left in the regular season, Montreal is on track to make the playoffs as the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.
The only other player to wear No. 93 for the Canadiens was Doug Gilmour, who played for the team from 2001 to 2003.