Ivan Demidov will be out 2-4 weeks for the Montreal Canadiens with a lower-body injury.
The 20-year-old forward had a goal and an assist and played 16:03 in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, the most recent game for the Canadiens.
Demidov played in all 82 games last season and had 62 points (19 goals, 43 assists). He finished first among rookies in assists, points, power-play points (20), multipoint games (14, tied for first), was second in power-play goals (seven) and sixth in goals.
He had nine points (three goals, six assists) in 19 Stanley Cup Playoff games to help Montreal advance to the Eastern Conference Final where they lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in five games.
The No. 5 pick by Montreal in the 2024 NHL Draft, Demidov has 66 points (21 goals, 45 assists) in 86 regular-season games and 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 24 playoff games.
Montreal (1-0-1) hosts the Ottawa Senators in their home opener on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN2, CARNHL, HHN).
