The Montreal Canadiens have spent years carefully building a sustainable salary cap «core,» but that delicate balance is now under siege. As Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen continue to explode onto the scoresheet, General Manager Kent Hughes is facing a terrifying reality: the days of «hometown discounts» in Montreal may be officially over. With both players driving their market value to historic highs, the Habs are quickly approaching a financial crossroads that could define the franchise for the next decade.
The Demidov Dilemma: Will the Russian Phenom Demand the Bank?
Ivan Demidov was drafted 5th overall in 2024 to be a «gamebreaker,» and he has delivered exactly that. Currently leading all NHL rookies with a staggering 39 points in the 2025-2026 season, Demidov is no longer just a prospect; he is a cornerstone. However, his elite production comes with a massive price tag.
While core leaders like Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson famously signed team-friendly deals to help build a winner, the hockey world is questioning if Demidov will follow suit. Unlike previous rookies, Demidov’s leverage is immense.
If he refuses to «leave money on the table,» Kent Hughes may be forced to choose between overpaying his young star or risking a high-stakes standoff that could derail the team’s rebuilding window.
Oliver Kapanen: From Project to Payday
While Demidov captures the headlines, Oliver Kapanen has quietly turned into an offensive juggernaut. No longer a «project» player, the 2021 second-round pick has amassed 27 points this season, proving his stint in Sweden and early NHL exposure have matured his game beyond his years.
Kapanen’s rise creates a secondary fire for the front office to extinguish. If both he and Demidov demand top-tier contracts simultaneously, the Canadiens’ projected cap space will vanish overnight. The organization is now in a race against time to sign these players before another record-breaking month adds another million dollars to their asking price.
The Kent Hughes Gamble
The ideal scenario for Montreal is to sign both players early, «buying» their prime years at a fixed rate. However, if Demidov’s camp insists on a «bridge deal» to bet on even higher future earnings, the Canadiens could find themselves in a salary cap hell similar to the one that dismantled other Canadian powerhouses.
The debate is raging in Montreal: Should the Habs pay whatever it takes to keep this generational talent together, or is the team’s internal salary hierarchy more important than any single player? Kapanen and Demidov are no longer just future stars; they are the two most expensive decisions Kent Hughes will ever have to make.