NHL Buzz: Canadiens sign Demidov, No. 5 pick in 2024 Draft

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Montreal Canadiens

Ivan Demidov, the No. 5 pick of the 2024 NHL Draft, signed an entry-level contract with the Canadiens on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old forward led SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League with 49 points (19 goals, 30 assists) in 65 games. It was the most points in a KHL season by an under-20 player.

Demidov tied for the team lead with five points (three goals, two assists) in six KHL playoff games. SKA St. Petersburg was eliminated from the postseason with a 5-2 loss to Dynamo Minsk on Sunday.

Demidov told NHL.com during the 2024 draft his plan was to come to the NHL for the 2025-26 season.

"I have one year more on my contract, and that's why I'll stay in Russia," he said. "After that, I come over."

The Canadiens (38-30-9) are six points ahead of the New York Rangers for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. -- Adam Kimelman

Carolina Hurricanes

Jordan Staal and Andrei Svechnikov returned for the Hurricanes against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.

Staal, the Hurricanes captain, had missed four games because of a lower-body injury. The center, who skated between Jordan Martinook and Svechnikov at practice, has 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists) in 71 games.

Svechnikov had missed the previous two games because of an undisclosed injury. Before that, the forward played three games following a seven-game absence because of an upper-body injury. He has 45 points (19 goals, 26 assists) in 66 games.

"I think we'll have 'Jordo' back and 'Svech' back tonight," coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "That's a positive, for sure."

Jesperi Kotkaniemi did not play after he was injured during a 5-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday. The center, who played 7:42 before exiting the game, did not practice Monday and was not on the ice for the morning skate Tuesday.

He has 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 76 games.

"He's out for probably at least a week," Brind'Amour said. "Nothing too serious, which is good."

William Carrier is "still not available," Brind'Amour said. The forward, who has missed 37 games because of a lower-body injury, practiced Monday wearing a regular jersey. He has nine points (four goals, five assists) in 39 games. -- Heather Engel

New Jersey Devils

Dougie Hamilton could return to the lineup for the start of the playoffs.

The defenseman, who was ruled out the remainder of the regular season March 13 because of a lower-body injury, has been skating on his own the past two weeks.

"I think there's a chance he (could return for the first round of the playoffs), but it's just a matter of how he continues to progress," coach Sheldon Keefe said Tuesday. "He is on the ice, which is a positive sign. There has been no discussion at this point yet of him joining the team, which speaks to the fact he's not where he needs to be. But obviously that's a significant checkpoint for us that's on the horizon."

The 31-year-old left a 4-3 loss at the Dallas Stars on March 4 after getting tangled with Stars forward Mason Marchment behind the Dallas net at 18:13 of the first period.

Hamilton leads Devils defensemen in goals (nine) and is second in assists (31) and points (40). He is tied for first with 15 power-play points.

New Jersey (41-29-7) can clinch a playoff berth with one point against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. The Devils are third in the Metropolitan Division, seven points behind the Hurricanes. -- Mike G. Morreale

Toronto Maple Leafs

Jake McCabe and David Kampf did not travel and will miss the Maple Leafs' next two games, against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday and the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday.

"They'll stay home," coach Craig Berube said Monday. "They were skating today, which is good, but they'll be out the next two games."

McCabe, a defenseman, left a 3-2 win against the Panthers on April 2 late in the third period because of an undisclosed injury; Kampf, a forward, left the same game after the second period because of an upper-body injury.

Berube said Friday each was day to day and added Monday that "it looks like (they are progressing well)."

Toronto (47-25-4) has clinched a playoff berth and is first in the Atlantic Division, two points ahead of Tampa Bay. The Maple Leafs can clinch home-ice advantage in the first round with a regulation win Tuesday. -- Dave McCarthy

Minnesota Wild

Kirill Kaprizov practiced with contact Tuesday in the next step in his recovery from a lower-body injury that has kept him out since Jan. 26.

The forward has missed 28 straight games, and 40 of the past 43, because of the injury. He had surgery in late January and was expected to be out a minimum of four weeks.

Joel Eriksson Ek, who has missed the past 21 games because of a lower-body injury, also took part in battle drills during practice for the first time since he the forward was injured.

"This was the next progression for them to get into a regular practice, 5-on-5 drills, normal stuff with other guys and not in such a controlled setting," coach John Hynes said. "They have battled a bit with each other, and then it truly comes down to how their response is to this, how comfortable they feel. I think it's the medical and mental side as well."

Hynes would not say if either would be a possibility to play against the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; FDSNNO, NBCSCA).

"They looked good," Hynes said. "It didn't look like there was any hesitation there. I thought both guys were skating, doing things at top speed. You're watching, when guys are coming back from the type of injuries they had, accelerations, how they're starting from a standstill, can they get up, are they explosive. When they have the puck, are they looking to do the things they normally do? I thought they looked good in those areas, but there's another component to it as well."

Defenseman Jake Middleton is day to day and won't play Wednesday because of an upper-body injury sustained on a hit from New York Islanders center Bo Horvat during a 3-1 loss April 4. -- Jessi Pierce

Calgary Flames

Zayne Parekh was recalled from Saginaw of the Ontario Hockey League on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old defenseman, who was the No. 9 pick in the 2024 draft, led OHL defensemen and was fifth among all skaters with 107 points (33 goals, 74 assists) in 61 games with Saginaw. Last season, Parekh won the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL's best defenseman and was voted the CHL Defenseman of the Year.

"[I'm] excited to see the boys, a little nervous, haven't seen them in a while,” Parekh told the Flames website. "Just excited to be a part of it, be able to watch and experience this whole fight they're in. ... There's so much that I can learn in the next couple of weeks, hopefully a few months but just really excited."

Parekh was set to join the Flames at practice Tuesday prior to their game at the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; Victory+, KCOP-13, SNW). Calgary is four points behind the Minnesota Wild for the second wild card in the West with a game in hand.

"If [my NHL debut] comes, I'm going to be really excited, but you know, if it doesn't I'm just going to be the team's number one supporter," Parekh said.

Winnipeg Jets

Nikolaj Ehlers did not play in the Jets' 3-1 win against the St. Louis Blues on Monday.

It was the second straight game the forward missed. Ehlers, who has 63 points (24 goals, 39 assists) in 67 games this season, left a 4-0 win at the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday after he took pucks off his foot and the inside of his leg on separate plays.

"Just obviously the comfort level, got out there with the (morning) skate, which is great," Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel said. "So, we'll just see how he is after or this afternoon and take it from there."

Arniel also said defenseman Neal Pionk, who has missed 12 games because of a lower-body injury, is nearing a return, and forward Gabriel Vilardi (upper body), who has missed seven, is close to resuming skating.

The Jets (53-21-4), who are at the top of the NHL standings, three points ahead of the Washington Capitals, visit the Stars on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; Victory+, TSN3). -- Darrin Bauming