Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov has been named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for December 2025, leading all first-year players with 14 points in 15 games. The 20-year-old recorded four goals and 10 assists during the month, topping rookie charts in several categories. This honor marks the second straight season a Canadiens rookie has received the award.
The NHL announced on January 1, 2026, that Ivan Demidov, the Montreal Canadiens' right wing and fifth overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, is the Rookie of the Month for December 2025. Demidov amassed 4 goals and 10 assists for 14 points in 15 games, outpacing all other rookies. He edged out competitors including Anaheim Ducks' Beckett Sennecke with 11 points in 15 games, Detroit Red Wings' Axel Sandin-Pellikka with 9 points in 15 games, Vancouver Canucks' Linus Karlsson with 8 points in 13 games, San Jose Sharks' Igor Chernyshov with 8 points in 7 games, and Washington Capitals' Ryan Leonard with 8 points in 7 games.
Demidov ranked first among December rookies in assists (10), even-strength assists (7), even-strength points (10), and tied for second in power-play assists (3) and power-play points (4). He also tied for fourth in goals (4) and fifth in even-strength goals (3). The forward appeared on the scoresheet in 11 of his 15 games, including a five-game assist streak from December 3-11 (0-5—5) and a four-game point streak to close the month from December 21-30 (3-4—7).
This performance builds on Demidov's strong rookie season, where he leads all NHL freshmen with 10 goals, 23 assists, and 33 points in 39 games. He tops rookie lists in assists, even-strength assists (15), shooting percentage (18.9%), and ties for second in power-play points (10). Among Canadiens rookies this century, only three have recorded more points in a single calendar month: Michael Ryder (16 in January 2004), Cole Caufield (15 in March 2022), and Lane Hutson (15 in March 2025).
Demidov joins New York Islanders' Matthew Schaefer (October 2025) and Minnesota Wild's Jesper Wallstedt (November 2025) as monthly winners this season. He is the second Canadiens player in consecutive seasons to earn the honor, following Lane Hutson in December 2024 and March 2025, who went on to win the Calder Memorial Trophy.
