Hockey
Demidov is the first rookie to score 40 points this NHL season.
Russian forward of Montreal Ivan Demidov was the first among newcomers to reach the milestone of 40 points scored in the current NHL season.
On Thursday, the Canadiens lost to Buffalo on the road in a regular season match with a score of 3:5, Demidov scored a goal. The 20-year-old Russian has 11 goals and 29 assists in the 2025/26 season.
Demidov was the fifth-fastest 40-point player in Montreal history among rookies, needing 48 games to do so. Those who did it faster than him were Joe Malone (16 matches in the 1917/18 season), Kjell Dahlin (34 matches in the 1985/86 season), Mats Neslund (41 matches in the 1982/83 season) and Guy Lafleur (44 matches in the 1971/72 season).
Second place in the rookie scoring race is taken by Anaheim forward Beckett Senneke (35 points).
Demidov was selected fifth overall by Montreal in the 2024 draft. In April 2025, he signed an entry-level contract with the Canadiens.
Source: Sportbox
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