Signing Demidov Extension

[Fanpuck33]

This deal looks even better with Leo Carlsson about to nearly double his cap hit.

[Commandant]

I love that our entire core is locked down.

[DON]

 

Discussing Demidov’s Extension – HabsWorld.net

 

It’s especially important that this got done before the mid-September deadline loomed.  At that point, the maximum length of a contract drops from eight to seven while the year-to-year structure gets a little stricter; this deal wouldn’t be valid ten weeks from now.  It certainly helps when ownership is willing to go this route and the Habs have gotten good at making the case for why this structure works with Demidov being the latest example.

 

Verbeek gamble biting him in ass now.

 

NHL contract grade: What Leo Carlsson offer sheet means for Flyers, Ducks and league - The Athletic

 

Firstly, it’s a reminder that the teams that wait to pay their young stars (Carlsson was extension-eligible last offseason) rather than re-signing them before their entry-level contracts expire will likely regret it, which is something NHL agents warned about amid the skyrocketing cap. The Montreal Canadiens, for example, went to work early, signing Lane Hutson, Juraj Slafkovský and Ivan Demidov.

 

NHL free agency best and worst deals: On Ivan Demidov, Jacob Trouba and many more - The Athletic

 

 

The Montreal Canadiens did it again, locking up Ivan Demidov for the next eight seasons at just a $9.15 million cap hit. For four of these years, there will be less than $1 million separating Demidov’s cap hit from Jacob Trouba’s. Obviously, UFA and RFA aren’t apples-to-apples, but that juxtaposition is among the most jarring of the day.

Demidov is coming off a sensational rookie season where he scored 62 points; it’s not difficult to see him putting up 90 one day. There is extremely little risk here given Demidov’s explosive growth potential and this deal will likely be a steal for Montreal for years to come even if he just ends up as an everyday top-line player. If Demidov hits his ceiling, though, it has the potential to challenge Lane Hutson’s deal for the best in the league.