Why Ivan Demidov could have an immediate impact on the Montreal Canadiens

In 2021, the Montreal Canadiens overcame stronger-on-paper opponents and put together one of the most memorable playoff runs in recent history. 

In a lineup of veterans, two faces stood out: 21-year-old Nick Suzuki and 20-year-old Cole Caufield. The first one, a sophomore, had taken a significant step forward as the team’s second-line center. Still, it was arguably the freshly arrived Caufield who gave the team the jolt it needed to scale past their opposition. 

The 2024-25 Canadiens lack the experience of the 2021 edition. Their core players are up-and-comers, not at the twilight of their careers. But there are some parallels between the two situations. The team is surpassing expectations and hungry for more. Suzuki and Caufield are now leading the team on the offence and another 21-year-ol