Habs Prospects
SKA Coach Wants Canadiens Forward Demidov Back In The KHL
Top Montreal Canadiens prospect Ivan Demidov may have left the KHL, but there’s at least one person who would like to see him back in an SKA Saint Petersburg jersey next season.
After firing Roman Rotenberg earlier in the week, SKA hired Hall of Famer Igor Larionov as their new head coach, with the intent of adding a little more experience to the mix. Larionov was recently let go by Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, where he coached another Canadiens prospect, defenceman Bogdan Konyushkov.
As a reminder, Rotenberg rewarded the highest scoring player in his lineup with a demotion on several occasions, with Demidov being used on the fourth line after putting together a very healthy streak of offensive production.
Larionov certainly holds more respect around the international hockey landscape, however, his desire to bring Demidov back to the KHL is a pipe dream. The Canadiens are counting on Demidov to be a key member of the team next year, with most analysts and fans projecting him to play in a top-six role.
“I understand that Demidov is a real gem for the Canadiens,” explained Larionov to RG. “But sometimes you need to take a step back to move three steps forward. I’d really love the chance to work with this kid. I don’t know if it will happen, but I will be asking for him to be loaned back for one year.”
“I’d like to speak with the Montreal management. I’ll be asking for him.”
Igor Larionov wants Ivan Demidov back at SKA for one more KHL season before returning to Montreal.
WHAT?!https://t.co/AUiLQpFlDk pic.twitter.com/TY52AoAALW
— RG (@TheRGMedia) June 6, 2025
Bluff City
With all due respect to Larionov, even if Demidov hadn’t been treated poorly by the former coach, there would still be little to no chance the Montreal Canadiens would acquiesce to the demand.
On that note, at the very least, Larionov can suggest he attempted to bring Demidov back, which should garner some good will around the league. Losing high-end players to the NHL is not the ideal situation for a league such as the KHL, especially since they’ve undergone a significant exodus in talent over the last few years.
This guy is dreaming there is zero chance he going back to ska
Larionov was always a class act as a player but this is a bit of a strange request . Maybe he really believes Demidov can benefit from a season of his coaching.
Somewhat ironic though that the professor himself was drafted into the NHL 40 years ago in 1985 but he was only free to come over for the 1989/90 season after surviving the Soviets and Tikhonov’s oppression .
Demidov has that freedom now and he signed for the next 3 seasons with the Habs . Besides , the young Russian will find out as Hutson, Slafkovsky , Heineman and the others already have , he has a great teacher to learn from in Montreal with Marty St.Louis .
Love ya Igor, but put down the crack pipe. 🙄
That’s not just a pipe dream, that’s a crack pipe dream. What a massively stupid comment by Larionov. Yeah, he’s got a much better reputation, but the last coach was the owner’s son, and he responded to 3 point or more games by demoting Demidov and/or cutting his ice time. He openly talked of benching Demidov during the Gagarin Cup playoffs in order to help their junior team win THEIR Cup. There is no way Demidov would ever return there, he had to be peeved to be treated like that when he was by far their best forward. As though the Habs would loan him back after what he showed in such a small sample–not in this lifetime.
The only way he plays in Russia next season is if they kidnap him and force him to stay there by holding his family hostage.
It’s not a strange or stupid request. What good coach wouldn’t want a chance to coach Demidov?!?
Nothing wrong at all with him stating his wishes and I’m pretty sure he already knows there’s no chance it’ll happen but it never hurts to ask
I’ve never liked that expression. Sometimes it does hurt to ask, it depends on the question, it depends on who is asking, and who is being questioned.
Did you read any of the updates this past season regarding his treatment over there? They benched him after 3 point nights, or cut his ice time. He played under 4 minutes a night at times. That it was inane to hire your no talent son to coach your team, that should be obvious to most people, not to that owner though. Punishing your best player in an effort to convince him to stay? Not intelligent.
And Larionov thinks his name is enough to overcome all these gestapo like tactics? Stupid is about the kindest word I can think of to describe Larionov’s comments.
I certainly don’t blame you for trying Igor. I think we would all agree that Demi would have been much better off if you had coached him last year. But…that ship has sailed.
The shame of it is that Larionov didn’t become SKA’s coach a year ago. Demidov would have learned a lot more about unlocking his hockey talents from Larionov. But maybe Rotenberg taught Demidov a more valuable lesson — how to be an adult; how to play and maintain your composure and maturity when playing for a know-nothing coach. That knowledge and experience will certainly be useful to him next season.