The KHL has announced its players of the week, and one name stands out.
When the Montreal Canadiens selected Ivan Demidov fifth overall in the recent draft, it felt like the entire fanbase celebrated in unison. For years, the Habs have struggled to find offensive firepower; the last player to score 50 goals while wearing the iconic red, white, and blue was Stéphane Richer back in the 1989-90 season. Vincent Damphousse reached 40 goals in 1993-94, and Max Pacioretty, now with the Leafs, had 39 in 2013-14. For most of the past 40 years, the focus has largely been on exceptional goaltending.
Fans are eager for offensive talent and have closely followed Demidov’s progress in the KHL. While he didn’t make a huge splash initially and even spent a game on the fourth line, he rebounded well. He was moved back up to the third line, scored his first KHL goal against Lada Togliatti, and then had a four-point game when SKA St. Petersburg defeated HK Sochi 7-4.
This impressive performance earned him the title of rookie of the week in the KHL. In just two games, he racked up four points and averaged nearly 14 minutes of ice time. So far this season, he has played seven games and tallied six points.
