The youth movement is alive and well in Montreal - and it’s putting the rest of the league on notice.
While the Chicago Blackhawks currently hold the top spot in rookie point production this season with 77 points spread across six players, the Montreal Canadiens aren't far behind. In fact, they're second in the league in rookie scoring - and doing it with a standout headliner and a solid supporting cast.
Let’s start with the obvious: Ivan Demidov is not just leading the Canadiens’ rookie class - he’s leading the entire NHL rookie scoring race with 43 points. That puts him five points clear of Beckett Sennecke, his closest competition.
For a player who came into the league with high expectations, Demidov is not just meeting the bar - he’s raising it. His offensive instincts, vision, and ability to create space have been on full display, and as his ice time continues to climb (now up to 15:20 and trending upward), so does his impact.
Demidov’s production has been boosted by the emergence of Montreal’s second line, which has become a real engine for the team’s offense. That’s helped him stay in rhythm and earn more minutes, though head coach Martin St-Louis has at times pulled him off the top power-play unit - a decision that could factor into the Calder Trophy conversation down the line. If Demidov wants to lock in rookie-of-the-year honors, staying on that top unit and continuing to separate himself from the pack will be key.
He’s not the only rookie making noise in Montreal, though. Oliver Kapanen has quietly climbed to fifth in the rookie scoring race with 27 points and currently leads all NHL rookies in goals.
While he may not be in the Calder conversation just yet, his scoring touch has made him one of the most efficient young finishers in the league this season. Add in contributions from Owen Beck, Florian Xhekaj, and Jared Davidson - each with a goal to their name - and it’s clear the Canadiens are getting meaningful depth from their rookie class.
Goaltenders Jacob Fowler and Jakub Dobes have also seen NHL action, adding to the team's impressive rookie utilization.
Defensively, Adam Engstrom has suited up for 11 games, even if he’s yet to find the scoresheet. His presence adds another layer to this youth movement, showing that Montreal isn’t afraid to test its prospects across all positions.
Around the league, other teams are getting solid returns from their rookies too, but few have a one-two punch like Montreal’s Demidov and Kapanen. The Islanders, for example, have gotten big-time production from defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who sits third in the rookie scoring race with 34 points while logging heavy minutes on the top pair and power play. For now, Schaefer’s role - averaging 24:05 of ice time - might give him an edge in the Calder conversation based on usage and overall impact.
The Capitals are leaning heavily on Ryan Leonard (29 points, fourth in rookie scoring) and Justin Sourdif (21 points), while the Canucks round out the top five in rookie production with contributions from five different players, including Linus Karlsson and Tom Willander. Notably, Zeev Buium added 14 points with Minnesota before being traded to Vancouver as part of the Quinn Hughes deal.
Anaheim’s Beckett Sennecke remains Demidov’s closest competition in the scoring race with 38 points, and he’s been the Ducks’ primary rookie contributor alongside Ian Moore and Tim Washe.
Still, no team has two rookies producing at the level of Demidov and Kapanen. That’s a major reason why Montreal is making noise this season - and why fans are starting to wonder if the Calder Trophy could end up in Canadiens hands for the second straight year.
If that happens, it would be a rare feat. Only three teams in NHL history have produced back-to-back Calder winners - and none of them did it in the modern 32-team era. The Maple Leafs pulled it off in the 1940s with three straight winners (Gaye Stewart, Gus Bodnar, Frank McCool), the Rangers followed in the 1950s with Gump Worsley and Camille Henry, and the Bruins did it in the late ’60s with Bobby Orr and Derek Sanderson.
Could Montreal be next? If Demidov keeps trending the way he is - and if the voters value production and impact over ice time alone - he’s got a real shot to make history.