Demidov Looks Ready. That's the Best News Montreal Has Had All Preseason.

It's preseason, and the sample is small, but early reports out of training camp suggest Ivan Demidov is already playing like it's March. That matters more than the wins against Toronto do.

The entire offseason was built around one problem: Montreal's offense fell apart when it mattered most. The Canadiens averaged just 2.8 goals per game over their final stretch in 2026, a collapse severe enough to reshape the roster from top to bottom. The front office added Kreider, Dach, and Berard, locked up Newhook for four years, and committed to Demidov for eight. The theory was that secondary scoring depth would keep the offense from depending on any single line. Demidov showing up to camp in mid-season form is the first sign that theory has a pulse.

Last season he finished with 42 points in 50 games, quietly becoming one of the more productive young wingers in the league despite limited ice time. The extension was always a bet on what comes next. What comes next, apparently, is this: a player who looks like he took the summer seriously and arrived ready to take on a bigger role. That's the narrow path to the offense holding up in February and March — Demidov growing into a genuine second option behind Suzuki, so the weight isn't all on one center. Saturday was one preseason game. But it pointed the right direction.