SCA hockey club head coach Igor Larionov has expressed his desire to keep forward Ivan Demidov on the team’s roster for at least one more season, despite Demidov’s move to the NHL. Larionov aims to discuss a potential loan with the Montreal Canadiens to bring Demidov back to SKA for another year.

Larionov believes that an additional year with SKA would be highly beneficial for Demidov’s development. He stated his intention to initiate talks with Montreal to explore the possibility of a loan.

In the 2024/25 season, Ivan Demidov led SKA in scoring during the regular season, accumulating 49 points (19 goals and 30 assists) in 65 games. He also topped the team’s scoring charts in the playoffs, contributing 5 points (3 goals and 2 assists) in 6 games.

Following the conclusion of the season with SKA, Demidov joined the Montreal Canadiens, signing an entry-level contract. He made his NHL debut in April 2025 and immediately made an impact by scoring a goal and an assist. Demidov became only the third teenager in the Canadiens’ history to score in his debut game.