- Ivan Demidov fractured his ankle in the preseason, his agent revealed
- He played two regular-season games on it before an MRI found the problem
- Read below for his return timeline and what it means for the Canadiens
The Canadiens finally have an answer on Ivan Demidov. He has been playing and sitting with a fractured ankle.
Demidov’s agent, Dan Milstein, revealed Wednesday that the 20-year-old winger broke the ankle during the preseason. Montreal had only called it a lower-body injury since ruling him out in early October.
Milstein explained how the injury went unnoticed for a stretch. He said Demidov kept playing through it, and the winger pointed it out after the season opener.
“Unfortunately, he had a fractured ankle in the preseason. It was bothering him but he continued playing for the two games. I saw him after the first game of the season in Toronto, he walked up to me and said ‘Hey, something is bothering (me), something is not right.’ Then he goes out, plays the second game and we did an MRI.”
Demidov scored a goal and added an assist in those two games before Montreal shut him down. The team initially set his timeline at two to four weeks, which we covered in our original Demidov injury report.
That window is almost up, but Milstein said the winger isn’t quite there. He talked about when Canadiens fans can expect to see him back.
Here’s the timeline update David Pagnotta posted from the conversation:
“Ivan Demidov is getting ready. Probably a few more weeks or so, we’ll see him back in the lineup.”
A few more weeks puts his return somewhere in late November. Montreal could use the help, since the Canadiens have struggled to put together consistent results during his absence.
Demidov was a big part of last season’s offense. He put up 62 points in all 82 games as a rookie and added nine points in 19 playoff games. Martin St. Louis is working without one of his top creators while the club sorts out its start.
Demidov’s season has been one thing after another. He also made headlines in October when he fought a license suspension over a speeding ticket.
The Canadiens close out a three-game homestand Thursday against Utah, and Demidov won’t be in the lineup.
