Overview
- Demidov agreed to an eight-year, $73.2 million extension with a $9.15 million average annual value on the opening day of free agency.
- His agent said Demidov chose the long term and accepted less money so the team would have financial space to improve the roster.
- The contract is heavily front-loaded with signing bonuses, with reports saying roughly 80 percent of the total paid up front, and it does not take effect until the 2027–28 season.
- That structure and timing give the Canadiens extra short- and medium-term cap flexibility that the club can use to pursue veteran support pieces and manage upcoming restricted- and unrestricted-free-agent choices.
- The deal comes as NHL salaries and offer sheets have spiked this summer, and the agent predicts Demidov’s market value could be much higher when he reaches unrestricted free agency in his late 20s.