Highest Paid Hab: Canadiens Ink Long-Term Deal With Ivan Demidov

Ivan Demidov and the Montreal Canadiens have agreed to terms on an eight-year extension worth $9.125 million annually, locking up the young winger through the prime of his career. Demidov is getting $58M in signing bonuses and a 10-team NTC over final three years of his deal.

---

As per Pierre LeBrun:

The Demidov extension breakdown:

27-28, $11.5 M SB, $1 M salary
28-29, $11.5 M SB, $1 M salary
29-30, $9.5 M SB, $1 M salary
30-31, $6.7 M SB, $1 M salary
31-32, $6.3 M SB, $1.2 M salary
32-33, $6.3 M SB, $1.2 M salary
33-34, $5.8 M SB, $1.7 M salary
34-35, $7.5 M salary
$57.6 M total in SB money

Ivan Demidov. 9 seasons. Montreal Canadiens.

He is staying. Ivan Demidov has agreed to terms on an 8-year extension at $9.125M AAV. #GoHabsGo #WeAreGoldStar! pic.twitter.com/Ayny7y7JYR

— Dan Milstein (@HockeyAgent1) July 1, 2026

The deal comes just one season into his NHL tenure, after Demidov turned in a standout rookie campaign — 19 goals and 62 points in 82 games — that put him in Calder Trophy contention and helped carry Montreal to the Eastern Conference Final.

The extension slots him above teammate Lane Hutson‘s $8.85 million cap hit, making Demidov the highest-paid player on the roster once the deal kicks in, ahead of captain Nick Suzuki‘s $7.875 million.

Both the player and the team had signaled for months that a long-term deal was the goal, with Demidov saying he wanted to stay in Montreal for the long haul.

General manager Kent Hughes gets his young cornerstone locked up early, continuing a run of long-term extensions that’s kept the Canadiens’ cap outlook one of the healthiest in the league.

Next: Panthers Bring Back Radko Gudas on Six-Year Deal