MONTREAL — Ivan Demidov won’t be going hungry anytime soon, but the Montreal Canadiens right-winger consciously chose team culture over maximum profit. After agreeing to an eight-year, $73.2 million contract extension that kicks in for the 2027-28 season, his agent, Dan Milstein, revealed that the 20-year-old phenom intentionally left money on the table so the franchise has the financial flexibility to build a long-term contender.
Why Demidov Accepted a Team-Friendly Contract Extension
The extension carries an annual salary-cap hit of $9.15 million, including an $11.5 million signing bonus payable on July 1 and a 10-team no-trade clause in its final three years. In an era where NHL salaries are exploding under a $104 million salary cap—evidenced by massive deals across the league for young superstars—Demidov prioritized immediate stability and team-building in Montreal over holding out for top dollar.
«Ivan basically said he wanted the eight-year deal. He wanted it done quickly and wanted to leave room financially for Montreal to get even better,» Milstein said. «His exact words were, ‘We’re in a great situation. I feel like we’re going to be winning for many years.'»
Selected fifth overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, the 6-foot-1 forward made an immediate splash upon his debut in April 2025. During his first full campaign in 2025-26, Demidov led all NHL rookies with 62 points (19 goals, 43 assists) in 82 games, before adding nine points during the Canadiens’ deep run to the Eastern Conference Final.
A Generational Talent Positioned for NHL Stardom
Despite coming off just 84 career games when negotiations began, Milstein has zero doubts about his client’s ceiling, predicting that Demidov will soon be recognized among the league’s elite.
«Within the next couple of years, he’s going to be one of the top players in the NHL,» Milstein noted, adding that by the time this contract expires when Demidov is 28 or 29, the market will allow him to secure an even larger deal. «He wanted to be like everyone else on the team.»
As the Canadiens management continues its search for a complementary second-line center, Demidov’s team-first mentality sets a strong cultural blueprint for the franchise’s ongoing championship pursuit.