Martin St-Louis says he isn't sure Ivan Demidov will travel with the Canadiens to New York, according to Priyanta Emrith.
The uncertainty lands right after a rough Saturday night at home, where Montreal lost 4-1 to the Avalanche. Next up is a Monday date with the Rangers, and the status of the 20-year-old forward is now a real question for the trip.
Emrith relayed what the Canadiens head coach said about Demidov's travel plans.
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The injury report doesn't leave much room for optimism. Demidov is on injured reserve with an ankle injury and is listed as expected to be out until at least November 21, which is an estimate and not a firm return date. We first flagged Demidov's travel uncertainty on Saturday when St-Louis gave a similar answer.
The timing stings for a player who has barely had a chance to get going this season. Demidov has played just 2 games, with a goal and an assist.
He is still the fifth overall pick from the 2024 draft, and he already has 66 points in 86 career regular-season games. Montreal clearly values what he brings, which is why every update on his ankle gets this much attention.
The Rangers sit 13th in the NHL at 12-8-1 and have won 2 straight, with Mike Sullivan behind the bench. Madison Square Garden has been kind to them this season, as New York is 8-2-0 at home.
Montreal arrives in decent shape overall. The Canadiens are 12-4-4, second in the Atlantic Division, and their 7-1-1 road record is the best thing about their season so far.
Will Ivan Demidov play against the Rangers?
Going by the injury listing, no. A player expected out until at least November 21 shouldn't be in the lineup on November 16, and St-Louis' hesitation about even bringing him along fits that picture.
There's a case for keeping him home. Taking a 20-year-old with an ankle injury on a road trip only makes sense if the team believes he's close, and nothing in the current listing says he is. Let him heal in Montreal and avoid turning a short absence into a longer one.
The Canadiens will have to patch the lineup without him against New York, and Cole Caufield, who put up 4 shots on goal against Colorado, will be asked to carry more of the offense. Whether Demidov boards the plane should become clear before Monday's puck drop.
More to come.
This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.
Will Ivan Demidov travel with the Canadiens to New York?
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