Demidov Honored as NHL December Rookie of the Month
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.
