Canadiens sign Ivan Demidov to eight-year, $73.2M deal

The Montreal Canadiens have secured one of their brightest young stars for the next decade, signing forward Ivan Demidov to an eight-year, $73.2 million contract extension. The deal, which carries an average annual value of $9.15 million, was finalized on July 1, the first day the 20-year-old was eligible to sign.

Demidov’s extension will begin with the 2027-28 season and runs through the 2034-35 campaign. The contract includes substantial signing bonuses and a ten-team no-trade clause in its final three years. By signing before September 15, the Canadiens secured the maximum eight-year term under the NHL’s new collective bargaining agreement, which will soon reduce the maximum length for re-signing players to seven years.

The commitment follows a standout rookie season where Demidov led all NHL first-year players with 62 points, scoring 19 goals and adding 43 assists across 82 games. He was the runner-up for the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie and contributed nine points in 19 playoff games as the Canadiens advanced to the Eastern Conference Final.

General Manager Kent Hughes said finalizing the deal early provides stability for both the player and the team. He credited...