Demidov had two points (one goal, one assist) in two regular-season games and two assists in five playoff games.
Montreal, however, is trying to meter expectations by reminding Demidov he’s one of several young forwards, among them Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky, working to take their games to another level, and not to place too much pressure on himself.
“In Ivan’s case, what’s going to benefit him is there’s a whole slew of other players on our team that our fan base has all kinds of expectations for,” Hughes said. “‘Suzy,’ they want him to be the first player in however long to get 100 points. … They want Cole Caufield to get 40 goals. They want Lane Hutson to do something. They want ‘Slaf’ to take that next step. So I feel like in that regard, they have expectations for a whole set of really young hockey players that are in our market. I feel like it’s a little bit different than other players that may arrive in a market where they’re now going to be the savior.”
The emphasis will be growth of the entire team being what pushes the Canadiens to the next step in returning to Stanley Cup contention, along with the understanding it only gets harder from here.
“Most young hockey players come into the League trying to prove to themselves, prove to their families, prove to their doubters that they’re good enough and they’re capable of this or that, and they’re very focused on their careers,” Hughes said. “And then as they gain confidence that they belong and they are this, there’s a subtle shift to trying to win.
“And once they taste that, whether they get all the way to the Stanley Cup or something close, they continue to chase it and it becomes so much more of an obsession for them than any statistical accomplishments, be it 100 points or 40 goals, or things of that nature. So our message really has been to the young group, don’t wait too long to take ownership.”