Why Ivan Demidov’s $9.15M Deal Keeps Looking Better for Montreal
GOATIFYIvan Demidov’s eight-year extension already looked favorable for the Montreal Canadiens when it was signed. A little more than two months later, it is starting to look like one of the clearest examples of a young star deliberately trading some immediate earning power for long-term stability — and for a better chance to play on a deeper team.
Demidov agreed to an eight-year extension worth $73.2 million, carrying a $9.15 million average annual value. The important part is not simply the number. His agent, Dan Milstein, has explained that Demidov wanted the deal completed quickly and was comfortable leaving money available for Montreal to use elsewhere on the roster. That choice looks increasingly notable as the market for elite young players continues to climb.
For the Canadiens, the appeal is obvious. Demidov is coming off a 62-point rookie season, finished near the top of Calder Trophy voting and has already established himself as one of the most important pieces of Montreal’s next competitive window. Cost certainty through his prime gives the front office room to keep building around him.
Demidov Chose Certainty Before the Market Moved Again
Demidov did not need to rush. A player with his age, draft pedigree and rookie production could reasonably have waited for more leverage. Instead, he chose the opposite route: secure the long-term contract, remove future uncertainty and give Montreal a predictable cap number around which to plan.
Milstein has made clear that he would have preferred a richer deal for his client. That detail makes the agreement more interesting because it suggests the discount was not simply a negotiation loss. Demidov appears to have made a conscious strategic choice about the kind of situation he wanted around him.
The contract includes a major signing-bonus component and gives Demidov long-term security while still leaving him young enough to reach the market again later in his career. If he becomes the elite player Montreal expects, he can still command another enormous contract in his late twenties.
That makes the extension less about Demidov sacrificing his future and more about choosing when to maximize it. He gets stability now, the Canadiens get cost certainty through what should be his prime growth years, and both sides keep open the possibility of another major payday later.
Rising NHL Salaries Make Montreal’s Number Look Better
The context around Demidov’s $9.15 million cap hit has changed quickly. The league’s young-star market has continued to rise, with major extensions for players such as Cale Makar, Leo Carlsson, Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini pushing expectations higher. Even players still negotiating their next contracts are working from a very different market than the one Montreal locked in with Demidov.
That does not automatically mean every larger contract is a mistake. Different players have different leverage, arbitration paths, positions and projected ceilings. But for Montreal, the comparison is encouraging. If Demidov develops into a first-line offensive driver while carrying a cap hit below the league’s newest superstar tier, the difference becomes usable roster space.
That extra room matters most when a team is trying to move from promising to genuinely dangerous. Montreal has accumulated young talent, but eventually that talent becomes expensive. A team-friendly number on one cornerstone can help pay another defenseman, retain a scoring winger or add veteran depth around the core.
The Canadiens are essentially betting that Demidov’s performance will grow faster than his cap hit. After 19 goals and 62 points as a rookie, that is not a difficult bet to understand.
The Bigger Win Is What the Deal Says About Montreal’s Direction
The most valuable part of the extension may be what it says about Demidov’s confidence in the Canadiens. Young stars usually have every incentive to preserve flexibility. Demidov instead committed eight years because he believes Montreal can build something worth staying for.
That belief does not guarantee a Stanley Cup, but it makes the front office’s job easier. Players who want to be part of the same timeline reduce uncertainty. Long-term commitments also let management plan several seasons ahead instead of repeatedly reopening negotiations with its most important young players.
Montreal still has work to do. A rising young roster eventually has to prove that development can become playoff success, and team-friendly contracts matter only if the savings are used well. But Demidov’s deal gives the Canadiens exactly the kind of flexibility contenders spend years trying to create.
If his rookie season was only the beginning, $9.15 million per year could become one of the most valuable numbers on Montreal’s books. Demidov gets security and a team built with more room around him. The Canadiens get a potential franchise forward locked through his prime. With the NHL salary market accelerating, that trade-off already looks increasingly favorable for both sides.
