The Montreal Canadiens wasted no time signing Ivan Demidov to a contract extension ahead of the final season of his entry-level deal. On July 1, the first day he was eligible, Demidov was signed for the maximum of eight additional years, on a contract that carries a $9.15 million average annual value, making him the highest-paid forward on the team.
Ivan Demidov. 9 seasons. Montreal Canadiens.
— Dan Milstein (@HockeyAgent1) July 1, 2026
He is staying. Ivan Demidov has agreed to terms on an 8-year extension at $9.125M AAV. #GoHabsGo #WeAreGoldStar! pic.twitter.com/Ayny7y7JYR
Demidov finished his first full season in the NHL as the runner-up to Matthew Schaefer for the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie. Playing all 82 games, he scored 19 goals and added 43 assists, ranking fifth on the team. In the post-season, he had nine points in 19 games, and a four-game point streak in the series versus the Buffalo Sabres.
He was one of the most impressive forwards in the Eastern Conference Final versus the Carolina Hurricanes, where his growing ice time reflected his standout play during a series the Habs otherwise struggled in. That performance likely gave management the confidence to commit to this contract, bolstering their view of him as a critical piece for Montreal’s upcoming window of contention.
The new contract will begin a season from now and run until the end of the 2033-34 campaign. The contract will make up 8% of the projected $113.5-million salary cap upper limit for the 2027-28 season when it begins.
