Overview
- Under the new collective bargaining agreement the Canadiens have until September 15, 2026 to offer Demidov an eight-year same-team extension before the maximum re-sign length drops to seven years on September 16.
- Demidov burned a year of his entry-level contract and will be a restricted free agent in 2027, making this first post-entry-level deal the key moment in his career timeline.
- Analysts point to production-based comparables and project Demidov’s extension may resemble Logan Cooley’s higher-end package rather than Juraj Slafkovsky’s lower AAV, which implies a multi-million dollar annual value.
- Rising salary-cap projections — roughly $104 million for 2026–27 and an expected $113.5 million the following year — increase Montreal’s flexibility but also strengthen Demidov’s bargaining leverage while stressing the team’s internal pay limits.
- Montreal’s next steps this summer will include negotiating with agent Daniel Milstein, deciding contract length versus AAV, and finding a suitable trade destination for Brendan Gallagher to create cap room and preserve the club’s salary structure.