Ivan Demidov has had a great start to the season—just like the rest of the Montreal Canadiens. Watching him play, it’s hard to believe Demidov is a rookie. After their win against the Vancouver Canucks, a rookie party was planned, and when Demidov was asked about it postgame, his response had the TV studio laughing out loud.
The Montreal Canadiens, who boast the youngest roster in the league, currently sit second in the Eastern Conference, having lost only three of their first ten games. Rookie Ivan Demidov has played a big part in their early success, tallying nine points so far.
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Traditional rookie party
Demidov played a few games last season after coming over from Russia when his campaign with SKA St. Petersburg ended. But the 2025–26 season marks his first full rookie year, and as tradition has it, a rookie party is held to welcome the new players to the team. The Canadiens hosted theirs following their Saturday win over the Vancouver Canucks.
Ivan Demidov’s hilarious response
In the postgame interview, Demidov was asked whether he’d be allowed a drink during the party since he’s still only 19. His answer made the reporters in the TV studio burst into laughter. Instead of saying yes or no, Demidov just smiled widely, then took off his headphones—signaling that the interview was over.
Online, fans are loving his nonverbal response:
“Love this guy,” one fan wrote.
“He’s as subtle a joker as he is on the ice. Pure genius,” another added.
“This is one of my favorite moments in years. Ivan is just perfect in that skit,” a third fan wrote on Reddit.
You can watch the hilarious interview below.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Ivan Demidov
