Ivan Demidov trains at Canadiens’ Brossard complex, drawing an early summer crowd at CN Sports Complex

Ivan Demidov was back on the ice at the Canadiens’ CN Sports Complex in Brossard on Tuesday, and he did not come alone. According to Yahoo Sports, the forward’s summer session at the Canadiens’ training base included a “surprise guest,” turning a routine development day into something closer to an open practice for staff and nearby observers who keep tabs on who is in town before the season begins.

The Canadiens’ complex in Brossard has become a recognizable stop in the off-season. Where players traditionally stayed away until the schedule forced the issue, Yahoo Sports reports that Demidov has been living in Brossard for the last two summers, using the facility’s proximity and resources to stack extra work before camp. The point of the early routine is straightforward: getting on the ice, sharpening timing, and building habits before the team’s real preseason rhythm begins.

The report also depicts Tuesday’s session as a group effort rather than a lone-prospect workout. Yahoo Sports says Demidov was joined by many of his teammates, reinforcing that this summer stage is not only about individual skill, but also about learning to play within a shared structure and tempo that more closely resembles team training than isolated development.

Demidov’s decision to stay in town early carries added weight for Montreal’s long-term planning because the Canadiens are in a multi-year process where player development and readiness are central storylines. When a young player chooses to work at the team’s facility well ahead of camp, it typically indicates a push for faster acclimation to the organization’s expectations, pace, and off-ice standards. It also creates an advantage for coaches and development staff, who can track progress across weeks rather than trying to diagnose it in a short, compressed timeline.

There is also a fan-facing element. Yahoo Sports frames this as part of the reason Canadiens fans have started paying attention earlier, with the “hockey withdrawal” window being shortened by the visible signs of summer hockey at CN Sports Complex. In practical terms, it is a reminder that NHL development is increasingly year-round, and that prospects are no longer waiting for the calendar to start becoming NHL players.

At the same time, the emphasis should remain on development rather than outcomes. An early summer skate, even one that attracts attention because of who is present, does not function as a roster announcement or a guarantee of a specific role. What it can do is narrow uncertainty for the player and staff, building continuity that will matter later when preseason evaluation and regular-season usage become the real tests.

For what to watch next, the simplest indicators are whether the group work continues through the rest of August and how Demidov’s skating and habits look when the Canadiens’ on-ice structure tightens approaching camp. If the pattern of early, on-site training remains consistent, Montreal’s development group will have more information, and the team’s timeline for integrating young talent could become clearer before the season forces everyone back into full-game mode.