The Montreal Canadiens are out. And the Washington Capitals? “We won a series, and we’re going to enjoy it tonight, and tomorrow it’s a new day, and it’s going to be a new series,” said Alex Ovechkin, who looked confident, perhaps a mere realization that the dream isn’t too far away now. And the 4-1 win came all true with many fighting tooth and nail all season. As much as it seems a glory for the NHL fans and spectators to witness, it’s somewhat bitter to hear the Caps crushing a hope. One that has nothing much to do with the scoreboard but a lot to do with the 19-year-old Russian rookie who now watches his season spiral into standby mode!

Ivan Demidov has been the top prospect for the Canadiens’ dazzling for a long time before making his entry to the ice. But here’s where the heartbreak kicks in when Renaud Lavoie shared the update on X. “Ivan Demidov signed a contract late in the season and obviously burned a contract year. He’s not eligible to play with the @RocketLaval in the AHL playoffs,” the post read. And just like that, the Canadiens’ first-round exit marked the end of this rookie’s season, who is now not eligible to join the Laval Rocket for the AHL playoffs. Does that mean no ice time, no reps, and clutch goals? Partially, yes.

But let’s say it’s a twist of timing that eliminated a year of eligibility for Demidov and crushed his golden playoff opportunity. And it all happened after a record-shattering KHL season that crowned him the youngest SKA star! Talk about 49 points and three Rookie of the Month titles. “It’s crazy, you know? I feel the fans love me. It’s cool; it’s amazing,” the young star revealed to the media in a post-game interview. After all, his NHL debut came with Montreal’s fifth-overall pick with signing a three-year entry-level deal.

While this had been a short time for him to instantly light up the ice with goals and an assist, for the Habs, even this short time had been promising. But now with the team being officially out of the Stanley Cup race, the real thing that hurts is his chance to grow, which seems paused—even in the AHL. Hence, to say that a golden opportunity is gone in a blink. But is it the end of it all?

What does the NHL have to offer this young rookie?

Probably a lot. Looking ahead, Demidov’s future seems promising with the Canadiens. Because his arrival had been nothing short of electrifying when the 19-year-old forward notched an assist and a goal in his debut match against the Chicago Blackhawks. Now this indeed shows his offensive prowess right from the start, given that his impact was equally highlighted into the playoffs as well. Two contributed in Game 4 against the Washington Capitals. So, haven’t these performances provided a glimpse into his potential as a key player for the team?

And for the Habs? Well, they have always been optimistic for this young star. “If there was one player who wasn’t too worried or didn’t seem too stressed, it was him. Maybe it’s youth and naivety. I wasn’t afraid to put him in the lineup even though he doesn’t have the experience of the other guys,” the head coach, Martin St. Louis, quoted after Demidov’s debut.

With his given skill set that complements the team’s young core and with continued development, it looks like he is surely poised to become a significant contributor in the coming seasons. While his late-season signing rendered him ineligible for the AHL playoffs, it surely didn’t limit his immediate playing opportunities for his future with the Canadiens. And with the NHL witnessing a potential prospect in him, Demidov’s progression is going to be a key contribution to the league’s overall success.