Ivan Demidov has given Martin St-Louis and the Montreal Canadiens another reason to worry after a troubling observation outside their locker room.
Montreal Gazette reporter Stu Cowan revealed Tuesday night that Demidov was still wearing a plastic walking boot on his right foot following the Canadiens' overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks.
The update caught plenty of attention because the Canadiens have remained unusually quiet about Demidov's injury, particularly when it comes to a potential return date.
Cowan reported seeing former Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov speaking Russian with Demidov outside the Montreal locker room. But it was the young forward's footwear that stood out.
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Ivan Demidov still in a walking boot: Delayed absence?
A walking boot isn't automatic proof of a lengthy absence. Still, seeing Demidov wearing one raises questions about where he stands in his recovery.
And that's the frustrating part for Canadiens fans. Without a clear medical update or timetable, there's no way to know how close Demidov actually is to returning.
Cowan's observation adds another layer of uncertainty for a Canadiens team already dealing with the challenge of navigating its season without one of its most exciting offensive talents.
The Russian forward brings creativity, puck control and offensive instincts that Montreal can't simply replace by shifting another player into his spot.
His absence also affects how St-Louis can organize his forward combinations, particularly when trying to generate offense and distribute responsibilities throughout the lineup.
And the longer Demidov remains unavailable, the more difficult those decisions become. Montreal needs offensive depth, especially when games tighten up and scoring opportunities become harder to find.
What makes this development concerning is the lack of clarity. The walking boot confirms that Demidov was still using protective equipment Tuesday, but it doesn't establish the severity of his injury.
The Canadiens haven't provided the definitive return date fans are waiting for, leaving St-Louis and his players facing questions that remain unanswered publicly.
For now, Cowan's unexpected locker-room observation is the strongest visual clue supporters have received about Demidov's condition. Until Montreal offers more information, the uncertainty surrounding his return will remain an uncomfortable storyline.
And for Canadiens fans hoping to see Demidov back on the ice soon, Tuesday's news was certainly not the update they wanted.
Should the Montreal Canadiens be more transparent about Ivan Demidov's injury and expected return date?
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