As if the hype accompanying Ivan Demidov’s pending arrival to the Montreal Canadiens wasn’t already going to be tough enough to contain under the roof at Bell Centre.
Amid the euphoria of Tuesday’s announcement that the 19-year-old Russian winger had signed a three-year entry-level contract (ELC) came this delicious nugget: The deal includes a $525,000 bonus if he wins the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the upcoming playoffs.
That was quickly (and understandably) misinterpreted by many on social media as a statement of intent from the fifth overall pick in the 2024 draft, who is parachuting directly into the final days of the Canadiens’ playoff push following a season where he more than held his own against men in the…