Matvei Michkov drops a teasing comment on Ivan Demidov and girlfriend Ekaterina Yakovleva's intimate photoshoot 

By Ankit Kumar

Modified Aug 23, 2024 17:43 GMT

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Ivan Demidov has already generated a buzz among the Habs community. Yesterday, Demidov's girlfriend, Ekaterina Yakovleva, shared an intimate photoshoot on Instagram, which quickly went viral.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Michkov playfully commented:

"This is a penalty 100%."

Demidov responded with a laughing emoji and a question in Russian — the English translation is:

"Why?"

Matvei Michkov commented

Both players are from Russia and have been recently drafted into the NHL. Michkov was drafted by the Flyers in 2023, while Demidov was selected by the Canadiens in 2024. The friendly exchange shows the bond between the two young players as they start their NHL careers.

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Ivan Demidov talks about playing in the AHL

Ivan Demidov, a top NHL prospect, recently led the Russian U23 team to a 4-2 win against Sochi in the Puchkov Tournament, scoring two goals. After the game, he addressed the possibility of playing in the AHL.

“I’m not afraid of it. My main goal is to play in the NHL. And if that means playing in the AHL, I’m all for it.” Demidov said (via The Hockey News).

This comes after analysts suggested AHL experience could help him adjust to North American hockey. Demidov was recently named the 13th forward on SKA St. Petersburg’s roster, as the team added three experienced NHL forwards.

With Montreal's top six forwards already strong, there's no rush to bring Demidov into the NHL immediately. Canadiens management focuses on developing prospects, and AHL time could benefit Demidov if he doesn't get enough KHL playing time. Demidov is open to this path.

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Ivan Demidov talks about wearing 'C' in Puchkov Tournament

The Sochi matchup was his first game since an April injury, but he showed no signs of rust.

After the game, Demidov expressed pride to be named team captain and stepping up when needed.

"It's really nice to wear the C letter." Demidov said, (via awinninghabit.com). "I'm glad they trusted me with leadership. I'll try to live up to expectations. There were many moments today when I took control of the game. We were down 1-2, then tied it, and I knew I had to score another goal quickly. It turned out that I was put 1-on-0, and I scored."

Demidov's leadership and performance are raising expectations for his future with the Canadiens. Fans are excited to see what he can achieve.