Following the surprise news earlier today that Ivan Demidov and SKA Saint Petersburg had mutually decided to terminate his contract, the Montreal Canadiens did what we were all hoping they would. They’ve signed the 2024 fifth-overall pick to his entry-level deal.
The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract (2024-25 to 2026-27) with forward Ivan Demidov.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 8, 2025
News release ↓ #GoHabsGohttps://t.co/2dy5C9n7Vk
The ELC starts this year, which allows Demidov to join the Canadiens immediately. There will be no first-year slide, as he’ll turn 20 before December 31 of this year, so he’s ineligible for that and will burn the first year by joining the Habs for their playoff push. This will accelerate the timeline for his next deal, which could be good or bad for the Habs cap-wise depending on how he performs.
This will add a different layer for the Habs if they can get into the playoffs. Opposing teams know how important it is to stop their top line, but Demidov can make them more dangerous when that line is on the bench. It is exciting news for the team that he’ll be joining, and about the only CBA-permissible way for the team to improve itself before the big dance.
Click the play button below to check out our podcast episode about Demidov’s potential landing in Montreal. Full disclosure, it was recorded before we knew about the ELC being official.
