While there are plenty of teams trying to take the next step right now and the competition to land quality centers is fierce, a new option has just landed on the market, and it’s an option that has proven chemistry with Montreal Canadiens [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens]’ rookie Ivan Demidov. Last season in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg, Demidov spent time skating alongside former NHL player Evgeny Kuznetsov. After finishing his contract with the Carolina Hurricanes [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes] in 2023-24, the pivot decided to sign a new contract with the Raleigh-based outfit with a $3.9 M AAV. Still, days later, the parties mutually decided to part ways, and he was put on unconditional waivers. Canadiens: Gorton Speaks On The Eve Of The Draft [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-gorton-speaks-on-the-eve-of-the-draft] Canadiens May Recalibrate Target [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-may-recalibrate-target] Could The Canadiens Swing A Big Trade With The Golden Knights? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/could-the-canadiens-swing-a-big-trade-with-the-golden-knights] The Russian then headed back home to Russia, where he signed a four-year pact with SKA on July 24, 2024. In 39 games under Roman Rotenberg, the pivot put up 37 points, picked up 38 penalty minutes, and finished his season with a plus-13 rating. However, in early April, the club and the player agreed to part ways, and the contract was terminated. On Thursday, Kuznetsov’s agent Shumi Babaev announced that his client has decided he wants to return to the NHL next season, and he has reportedly already had talks with multiple teams who could potentially be interested. The 33-year-old has played 743 games in the NHL with the Washington Capitals [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/washington-capitals] and the Hurricanes, picking up 575 points in the process. His most productive campaigns came skating alongside fellow Russian Alexander Ovechkin when he gathered 83 points in 79 games. That was in the 2017-18 season, when the Caps won the Stanley Cup. In these playoffs, he scored 32 points in just 24 games. However, Ovechkin was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy after recording 27 points, including 15 goals. The end of Kuznetzov’s tenure in Washington was a rocky one, as he joined the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program in February 2024. There hasn’t been any confirmation as to what prompted him to enter the program, but he was banned from playing for Russia for four years in 2019 following a positive drug test for cocaine. That same year, he was also suspended for three NHL games for “inappropriate conduct”. After he was cleared to return, the Caps placed him on waivers, where he went unclaimed and was assigned to Hershey in the AHL before being traded to Carolina. There’s no denying that Kuznetsov could be an interesting option for Demidov on the ice, but only if his issues off the ice are behind him. Given what Jeff Gorton said to the media on Thursday about being careful not to bring a player that wouldn’t be a good fit in the room, the Canadiens would have to be satisfied that there is no chance of his behavior becoming an issue. Photo credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwo-DfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen], never to miss a story. Follow Karine on X @KarineHains [https://x.com/KarineHains] Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/karinehains.bsky.social] and Threads @karinehains [https://www.threads.net/@karinehains]. Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/] for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens. Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens] on The Hockey News.
