The Canadiens are set to provide an update on Ivan Demidov’s ankle tomorrow, and the timing alone has raised eyebrows.
Montreal hasn’t addressed the claim from Demidov’s agent, who told journalist Stu Cowan that the young Russian has a fractured ankle and will be out for several more weeks. The team has not confirmed that diagnosis, but the promise of a press conference suggests the situation is serious enough to warrant a closer look.
Right now, the club’s injury report has Demidov on injured reserve with a return no earlier than November 14. That date may not tell the whole story, though, if his agent’s version proves accurate.
There was already a clue on Tuesday, when Patrick Friolet reported that Demidov was doing off-ice work while wearing a walking boot. At the time, Montreal still hadn’t revealed exactly what was wrong.
The absence stings because Demidov had barely gotten going. He has played in just 2 games this season, putting up 1 goal and 1 assist, and he was expected to keep building on his second NHL season. Over 86 career games, he has 21 goals and 45 assists, plus 11 points in 24 playoff games.
Even so, the Canadiens have managed to stay afloat without him. They’re 9-3-3, which puts them 6th overall in the NHL and 2nd in the Atlantic Division.
Martin St. Louis’ group is also 7-1-2 over its last 10, though Tuesday’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets snapped that run.
Montreal is back in action tonight against Utah, and Demidov’s spot in the lineup will again be missed. Tomorrow’s update should finally clarify whether this is a short-term setback or something much longer.
In Other News...
Canadiens Linked To Defenseman Who Could Reshape Their Blue Line
Simon Edvinssons name has started to circulate in Montreal for all the right reasons, at least from a roster-building standpoint. The Detroit Red Wings defenseman remains unsigned, and reports from The Fourth Period have put the Canadiens in the mix as teams around the league monitor the situation. For a Montreal blue line that has been a constant point of evaluation, a young left-shot defenseman with size and upside is the kind of player that naturally draws attention.
Nothing is close to being settled, and there is no trade in place, but the fit is easy to understand from the Canadiens side. Montreal has been linked to Edvinsson as it looks at ways to strengthen and reshape its defense, and any move involving a player of his profile would carry real implications for how the group is built going forward. For now, it is just a name to watch, but it is one that could linger as the situation develops. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Suddenly Have A Dylan Larkin Question To Watch
A new wrinkle has landed on the Canadiens radar, and it comes from outside Montreals own front office. According to Elliotte Friedman, Dylan Larkin is considering revising his trade list, which immediately puts Montreal in a conversation it was not necessarily expecting to have this soon. For now, nothing official has changed and no trade talks have started, but the possibility alone is enough to make this one worth monitoring.
Montreal is reportedly among four teams being mentioned in connection with the situation, alongside Buffalo, Boston and St. Louis, which gives the Canadiens a measure of company but also underlines how early this remains. The next move is still Larkins to make, and until he decides whether to alter his list, the entire idea stays in the speculative stage. Still, for a team always looking for ways to add impact talent, even a loose development like this can quickly become one of the more interesting subplots to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Face One Big Test After That Winnipeg Collapse
The Canadiens are back at the Bell Centre looking to steady themselves after the Winnipeg loss, and the next assignment brings a Utah Mammoth team that has been tough enough to make this a meaningful early test. Montreal has already confirmed Jakub Dobes in goal, giving the club a chance to reset behind a younger netminder as it tries to put the previous game behind it and get back to the cleaner structure that has carried it at its best.
Utah is expected to counter with Karel Vejmelka, who has had some success against Montreal with a 3-3-1 record in the matchup, which only adds to the sense that this one could hinge on the details. With key players recent form and injury situations still part of the backdrop, the Canadiens will be judged less on style points than on whether they can respond to a frustrating setback with a sharper, more complete effort. [Read more 🡒]