The Canadiens and Ivan Demidov have agreed to an eight-year, $73 million contract extension.
The new deal will begin in 2027-28 after Demidov’s entry-level deal is completed. According to Sportsnet’s Eric Engels, the pact carries close to $40 million in signing-bonus money and provides Demidov with 10-team no-trade protection in the final three years.
Demidov, 20, was the runner-up for the Calder Trophy last season after scoring 19 goals and 62 points in 82 games. He added three goals and nine points in the playoffs as the Canadiens reached the Eastern Conference Final.
Demidov was taken fifth overall in the 2024 NHL Draft.
The move is another win for the Canadiens front office, as president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton and general manager Kent Hughes continue to lock up key young pieces. It was just 10 months ago, at the very beginning of the 2025-26 season, that Montreal agreed to terms on an eight-year extension with 2025 Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson. And two years ago to the day — on July 1, 2024 — the team announced an eight-year extension for 2022 first-overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky.
In all, Montreal has Demidov, Hutson, Slafkovsky, 50-goal man Cole Caufield, right-shot defenceman Noah Dobson and Selke Trophy-winning centre Nick Suzuki signed through at least 2029-30. The highest cap hit off all those players is Dobson’s very reasonable AAV of $9.5 million and the oldest player of the group is Suzuki, who turns 27 in August.
The next big item of business for Montreal will be trying to find a suitable running mate for Demidov on the second line. For the most part, Suzuki, Caufield and Slafkovsky have lined up as a trio, leaving Demidov without a truly elite partner.
It’s well understood that the Canadiens — who are also prospect rich — are ready to pounce on any big-time centre or winger who could be a compliment to Demidov’s dazzling talents.
