Montreal Canadiens right winger Ivan Demidov has been named the NHL’s “Rookie of the Month” for December 2025. Demidov led all rookies with a remarkable 14 points, consisting of four goals and ten assists, over 15 games.
Demidov’s Impressive Performance
Demidov’s stats placed him ahead of notable players, including:
- Beckett Sennecke (Anaheim Ducks): 5 goals, 6 assists in 15 games
- Axel Sandin-Pellikka (Detroit Red Wings): 2 goals, 7 assists in 15 games
- Linus Karlsson (Vancouver Canucks): 5 goals, 3 assists in 13 games
- Igor Chernyshov (San Jose Sharks): 3 goals, 5 assists in 7 games
- Ryan Leonard (Washington Capitals): 2 goals, 6 assists in 7 games
Key Statistics
Throughout December, Demidov ranked first among rookies in multiple categories:
- Assists: 10
- Even-strength assists: 7
- Even-strength points: 10
- Power-play assists: 3 (tied for second)
- Power-play points: 4 (tied for second)
- Goals: 4 (tied for fourth)
- Even-strength goals: 3 (tied for fifth)
He consistently found the scoresheet, achieving a five-game point streak from December 3-11 and capping the month with another four-game streak from December 21-30.
Historical Context
Demidov’s monthly performance is among the best for Canadiens rookies in recent history. In the past two decades, only three Canadiens rookies have scored more points in a calendar month:
- Michael Ryder: 16 points in January 2004
- Cole Caufield: 15 points in March 2022
- Lane Hutson: 15 points in March 2025
Season Overview
As of now, Demidov leads NHL rookies for the 2025-26 season with 33 points over 39 games, cementing his status as a standout newcomer. His other notable rankings include:
- Assists: 23 (1st)
- Even-strength assists: 15 (1st)
- Shooting percentage: 18.9% (1st)
- Even-strength points: 23 (2nd)
- Power-play assists: 8 (2nd)
- Power-play points: 10 (tied for 2nd)
- Game-winning goals: 2 (tied for 2nd)
- Goals: 10 (3rd)
- Even-strength goals: 8 (3rd)
Demidov follows fellow Canadiens player Lane Hutson, who was named “Rookie of the Month” in December 2024. Hutson went on to win the Calder Memorial Trophy, marking a successful era for the Montreal franchise.
