Ivan Demidov may be only one season into his NHL career, but fantasy hockey managers should already be preparing for a potential point-per-game breakout with the Montreal Canadiens. My 2026-27 projection has Demidov finishing with 27 goals and 54 assists for 81 points in 82 games.
That would represent a sizeable jump from the 19 goals, 43 assists and 62 points he produced over 82 games last season, but there are legitimate reasons to believe another level is coming.
The biggest one is opportunity. Demidov produced his impressive rookie numbers while averaging roughly 15:30 of ice time per game, yet still led NHL rookies in assists, points and power-play production. He finished with 20 points on the man advantage and earned a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team.
Give a player with Demidov’s vision, hands and offensive creativity another two minutes of ice time each night — particularly alongside Montreal’s best offensive players — and the fantasy ceiling starts becoming extremely interesting.
Ivan Demidov Fantasy Hockey Projection: 81 Points in 2026-27
My projected stat line for Ivan Demidov in the 2026-27 season is:
27 goals + 54 assists = 81 points
That puts Demidov just under the one-point-per-game threshold at 0.99 points per game and establishes him as a potentially high-end fantasy hockey winger rather than simply an intriguing young player.
The projection isn’t based solely on expecting natural improvement.
Demidov generated 62 points while playing approximately 15:30 per night. At that workload, his production works out to roughly 2.9 points per 60 minutes. If his average ice time moves toward 17:30-18:00 and his per-minute production simply remains close to what it was during his rookie season, his statistical baseline already starts moving into the low-70-point range.
My projection model then applies a moderate Year 2 development adjustment for increased offensive responsibility, additional power-play touches, and expected improvement as Demidov becomes more comfortable attacking NHL defenders.
The result lands at 81 projected points.
Why Ivan Demidov Could Become a Point-Per-Game Canadiens Star
The power play is where I believe Demidov can separate himself from many comparable fantasy wingers.
Montreal’s top offensive group gives him the opportunity to work with Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson. That is an outstanding collection of finishing ability, puck movement and creativity.
We already have evidence that Demidov fits there. Montreal reported during the 2025-26 season that its power play surged after he joined the top unit, and Demidov ultimately finished his rookie season with a league-leading 20 power-play points among rookies.
Suzuki reached 101 points last season, Caufield produced 88, Slafkovsky finished with 73, and Hutson recorded 78 from the blue line.
From a fantasy perspective, that surrounding talent matters enormously.
Demidov doesn’t have to create every point himself. Suzuki can control possession and distribute. Caufield gives Montreal a premier shooting threat. Slafkovsky provides size and puck-retrieval ability, while Hutson can manipulate penalty killers from the blue line.
Demidov’s job can increasingly become finding seams, attacking defenders, and creating the extra pass that turns a dangerous power play into an elite one.
My Ivan Demidov Fantasy Hockey Outlook
If I’m drafting for upside, Demidov is exactly the type of player I want before the rest of a fantasy league fully prices in the breakout.
His rookie season already established a 62-point floor-level benchmark without true superstar-level ice time. The next step is increased five-on-five usage.
My median expectation is 27 goals, 54 assists and 81 points, with approximately 25-27 power-play points.
There is also legitimate upside beyond that projection. If Demidov earns closer to 18 minutes per night, remains healthy and becomes a permanent fixture alongside Montreal’s top offensive players, a 90-point ceiling shouldn’t be dismissed.
The primary downside would be slower growth in even-strength usage or a sophomore shooting slump. In that scenario, I would still expect Demidov to land somewhere in the low-to-mid 70-point range because his playmaking and power-play role provide multiple ways to generate fantasy value.
For me, that makes Ivan Demidov one of the most intriguing breakout candidates in 2026-27 Fantasy Hockey.
Ivan Demidov Career NHL Stats
| Type | GP | G | A | P | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 84 | 20 | 44 | 64 | 4 |
| Playoffs | 24 | 3 | 8 | 11 | -6 |
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