Canadiens Lose Demidov for Two to Four Weeks With Lower-Body Injury

The Montreal Canadiens will be without one of their brightest young stars for the next two to four weeks after announcing on Tuesday that Ivan Demidov has a lower-body injury. The team did not disclose how the injury occurred, though the 20-year-old Russian missed Monday's practice for what the club initially described as a therapy day. He had also sat out practices during the preseason after blocking a shot with his foot against the Ottawa Senators in Trois-Rivières on September 21. Demidov, selected fifth overall in the 2024 draft, has a goal and an assist in two games this season, including the game-tying tally in the final minute of Saturday's 6-5 overtime loss to Pittsburgh. He led all NHL rookies last season with 62 points — 19 goals and 43 assists in 82 games — and was a Calder Trophy finalist. He has yet to miss a game in the NHL. "It's a pretty good piece," coach Martin St. Louis said of the blow. "I don't think it impacts the way we're going to play, and if anything it gives opportunity to somebody else." Kirby Dach will take Demidov's place on the second line alongside centre Alex Newhook and winger Juraj Slafkovsky, while forward Florian Xhekaj draws into the lineup. Montreal host the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday in a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference Final, which Carolina won in five games. Forwards Oliver Kapanen and defenceman Kaiden Guhle are also yet to play this season.