After making the headlines on Tuesday, Montreal Canadiens's prospect Ivan Demidov should soon be coming to town. GM Kent Hughes wasn’t available to the media to comment on the signing, but he did speak on TSN during the first intermission of the Habs' tilt with the Detroit Red Wings.
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Asked when the Russian wonder would be joining the team, he replied:
Still to be determined, today was working through the release and then getting the contract done after the release was issued, and now we’ve got to work on work permits and things of that nature. As soon as the permits are there, he will be here ASAP.- GM Kent Hughes on when Ivan Demidov will join the team
Speaking for the entire fanbase, the interviewer then asked the GM how much of a role he expects the youngster to play on the team, and he explained:
Well, you know we don’t want to put too much expectations on him. We’re talking about a 19-year-old kid travelling across the world to come play. Hopefully, he gets a game in or two before the playoffs if we are able to make them, and we’ll see how he fits in. We’re going to play it by ear.- Hughes on how much of a role he expects the youngster to play
As for head coach Martin St-Louis, he was asked what he had to say about his soon-to-be player, and with a smile, he said:
You know how exciting a player he looks. Honestly, my focus is on clinching a playoff spot. Once we’ve done that, I’ll think about something else, but I don’t know when the kid will get here, so we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.- Martin St-Louis on his soon-to-be player
He was asked how reasonable it was to expect Demidov to play on his team this season when he’s been praising his men’s collective game so much, and he answered:
I think it’s reasonable, but I don’t know when he’ll be walking in. It’s reasonable; we signed him, and we know he’s coming, so it’s reasonable to think he’s going to put a Canadiens jersey on.- St-Louis on how reasonable it is to expect Demidov to integrate the lineup
As for how he expects to manage his integration, the bench boss said:
I don’t know, I’m not worried about it, we’re trying to secure a playoff spot right now.-
As for which number he’ll be wearing, there’s been no official announcement from the team yet, but TVA Sports’ Anthony Martineau asked Oliver Kapanen about the number 91 earlier this week, and the Finn replied:
The CH gave me 91 because that’s the number I wore in Europe; it wasn’t my choice. We’ll see next year.- Kapanen about his jersey number
Considering yesterday's developments, we’ll see sooner than next year. Demidov wore 91 with SKA St. Petersburg this season and has also worn 11 in the past. It’s hard to imagine anyone asking alternate Brendan Gallagher to give up his number. The man is the 15th best goal scorer in the team’s history, but Kapanen looks like a likely candidate for such a request.
Demidovmania has already overtaken the city, and some fans wore 91 Demidov jerseys to the game against the Red Wings. On Tuesday evening, the media were told that Hughes would hold a press conference once the promising prospect arrives in town.
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