Agent: Demidov Took Less For Chance To Win With Montreal Canadiens
Dan Milstein of Goldstar Hockey confirmed to the Montreal Gazette’s Herb Zurkowsky that his client Ivan Demidov indeed left money on the table to get a deal done early with the Montreal Canadiens.
“Ivan basically said he wanted the eight-year deal. He wanted it done quickly and wanted to leave room (financially) for Montreal to get even better,” Milstein told the Montreal Gazette.
Back on July 1st, the Montreal Canadiens re-signed Ivan Demidov to an eight-year $73.2 million deal, paying him $9.15 million a season. The deal also features a $11.5 million signing bonus that he will receive next July 1st. Demidov will also have a 10-team no-trade clause in the final three years of his contract.
While Demidov will be paid nicely over the course of his contract, his agent confirmed that he could have gotten even more money from the Canadiens. Instead, the 20-year-old wanted to give his team more financial flexibility.
“His exact words were, ‘We’re in a great situation. I feel like we’re going to be winning for many years.’ He wanted to leave money on the table so they can sign other players,” Milstein explained to Zurkowsky.
“My client, at the age of 28 or 29, will be able to sign whatever deal’s available at the time. That will probably be four or five times bigger than what it is today. For the time being, Ivan is extremely happy. He’s grateful and gracious. They came to him after only 84 (career) games. There are no regrets.
He wanted this deal. He knew there were other, bigger deals coming in the future. He knows he’s going to improve and wanted to be like everyone else on the team.”
Like many people across the league, including Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, Milstein sees Demidov becoming one of the league’s best players over the next few years.
“He’s going to have a very bright future. Within the next couple of years, he’s going to be one of the top players in the NHL,” Millstein predicted.
“Mark my words, this player is going to be in the conversation as one of the best players in the league. Give it a few more years. He will be a household name in the NHL—not just in Montreal.”
Demidov’s agent also told the Montreal Gazette about when he first laid eyes on the Canadiens forward. It happened to be at the same time as Milstein saw another future client in Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Artyom Levshunov.
“I told both parents their kids had the potential some day to not only play in the NHL but be stars,” recalled Milstein.
“Eight years later, you’re sitting at the rink, watching those two play against each other in the NHL in Montreal.” Milstein told Zurkowsky.
Demidov will still be playing the final year of his entry-level contract during the 2026-27 campaign as he looks to improve on his 19 goals and 62 points from last year. Then the new extension will kick in at the start of the 2027-28 season.
