Demidov vs the market: why Montreal's future hinges on one contract
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Ivan Demidov is already forcing Montreal Canadiens fans to think about the next contract, not the next shift.
Cale Makar has two seasons left, yet Colorado still feels the pressure because nobody wants a superstar walking into UFA status untouched.
Makar's deal runs through 2026-27 at a $9 million cap hit, and the extension chatter is basically inevitable once his window opens.
That's the blueprint for the anxiety, even when the player is still in his prime and still under contract.
Demidov is younger, but the math is nastier because the cap is climbing and elite scoring wingers are cashing in bigger every summer.
He's already on a three-year entry-level deal that runs from 2024-25 to 2026-27, so the big-boy negotiation is not far away.
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The Kaprizov comparison is not just vibes, it's production history.
Demidov put up 19-30-49 in 65 KHL games and set a new under-20 points record, topping the old mark held by Kirill Kaprizov.
That's the kind of resume that skips the «bridge deal» conversation and goes straight to «eight years, please.»
Ivan Demidov could reshape Montreal Canadiens spending
And yeah, the fanbase is excited, but you can feel the nervous laughter when the future cap hit enters the chat.
Kent Hughes has lived in the Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky range, where the number is big but the ceiling is still manageable.
Demidov might land above that bracket simply because the winger market keeps moving, and his offensive ceiling screams top-six driver.
If he pops early on the man advantage, his camp can point to leaguewide comparables and say, «that's the new normal.»
Our prediction on the landing spot: $9.5 AAV x 8 years feels like the clean compromise, and $10 AAV x 8 years is the «fine, we're done here» number.
The key is locking it before it becomes a Makar-style clock, where every season without ink adds leverage and noise.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 24|114 ANSWERS Demidov vs the market: why Montreal's future hinges on one contract Should Kent Hughes sign Ivan Demidov to 10 x 8? | ||
| Yes | 60 | 52.6 % |
| No | 54 | 47.4 % |
| List of polls | ||