Canadiens star Demidov played on a fractured ankle before shutdown.

The Montreal Canadiens have called a press conference for a major announcement involving Ivan Demidov.

The team is expected to provide an update on the 20-year-old forward’s injured ankle.

Demidov has been sidelined since early October with what was initially described as a lower-body injury.

His agent, Dan Milstein, recently revealed on the Daily Faceoff podcast that Demidov suffered a fractured ankle during the preseason.

According to Milstein, Demidov played through the fracture in two regular-season games before being shut down.

“Unfortunately, he had a fractured ankle in the preseason, and it was bothering him, but he continued playing for the two games,” Milstein said.

“I saw him after the first game of the season in Toronto, and he walked up to me and said, ‘Something is bothering me, something is not right.’ And then he goes off and plays the second game. And so, we did an MRI.”

The Canadiens initially listed Demidov on injured reserve with a return date no earlier than November 14.

Milstein, however, suggested the young forward could miss several additional weeks.

“Ivan is getting ready, probably a few more weeks or so, but we’ll see him back in the lineup,” Milstein explained.

The agent also compared Demidov’s situation to another client, Artyom Levshunov of the Chicago Blackhawks, who had a similar issue last season.

“A year ago I had the same issue with Artyom Levshunov in Chicago,” Milstein said.

“Those young kids, they just play through pain.”

Demidov had played every game in his NHL career before this injury, including all 82 games in the 2025-26 season.

Through 86 career games, he has recorded 21 goals and 45 assists.

He has also contributed 11 points in 24 playoff games, underscoring his value in high-pressure situations.

The Canadiens have not commented on the claims made by Milstein.

Journalist Stu Cowan first reported the agent’s comments, prompting the team to schedule Wednesday’s press conference.

When a team announces that an injury update is coming, it is rarely an encouraging sign, according to observers.

The Canadiens’ injury report still lists Demidov on injured reserve with a return no earlier than November 14.

Milstein’s timeline suggests he could be out longer than that.

On Tuesday, Patrick Friolet reported that Demidov was working out off the ice while wearing a walking boot.

The Canadiens had not disclosed the nature of his injury at that point.

Demidov was selected fifth overall by Montreal in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

Only first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini has been more productive from that draft class so far.