Canadiens sign Demidov to eight-year extension

Ivan Demidov glanced round a dressing room crammed with younger core gamers already signed for years to return.

The expert Russian ahead shortly determined he needed to hitch them.

On the primary day he was eligible, Demidov inked an eight-year, US$73.2-million contract extension with the Montreal Canadiens, serving to the franchise lock in one other key piece of its basis as NHL free company opened Wednesday.

“I imply, simply check out our group,” Demidov informed reporters in Brossard, Que. “We’ve got a superb core and everyone seems to be the same age. Everybody needs to win the (Stanley Cup) and everyone seems to be hungry.

“It was simple as a result of they needed me to be right here. I need to keep long-term right here. And we simply signed it so shortly.”

Demidov led all rookies with 62 factors (19 objectives, 43 assists) final season and completed second in Calder Trophy voting.

The 20-year-old winger — chosen fifth total within the 2024 NHL draft — added 9 factors in 19 playoff video games throughout Montreal’s run to the Japanese Convention last.

The extension kicks in after subsequent season and retains him below contract by means of the 2034-35 marketing campaign. He joins Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky and Lane Hutson, amongst others, as key members of Montreal’s nucleus locked in by means of a minimum of 2030.

“It’s at all times simpler when you may settle one thing sooner fairly than later,” Canadiens basic supervisor Kent Hughes mentioned. “Ivan is aware of that we now have a sure wage construction right here, and like our different gamers, he’s a group participant.

“He’s somebody who needs to be a part of one thing, as a substitute of being the one thing.”

Demidov agreed to the extension earlier than Sept. 15, when the utmost contract size for re-signing gamers drops to seven years below the NHL’s new collective bargaining settlement.

Defenceman Noah Dobson, signed at $9.5 million yearly by means of 2033, stays the group’s highest-paid participant with the wage cap set to rise considerably over the following few seasons.

Hughes credited the Canadiens’ team-first tradition — fairly than his personal work as GM — for the pattern of long-term commitments.

“The years that I spent speaking to gamers, the one factor that at all times amazed me is as soon as they’d that little style of success, they chased it without end,” mentioned Hughes, a former participant agent.

“And the sooner the group figures that out, then I feel the extra dedicated they’re to doing that, and that’s what’s occurring right here greater than something.”

In Toronto, veteran goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is becoming a member of the Maple Leafs on a three-year contract value a reported $21-million after successful two Stanley Cups over seven seasons with the Florida Panthers.

The 37-year-old former Vézina Trophy winner is coming off a down yr, posting a .877 save proportion and a 3.07 goals-against common because the Panthers missed the playoffs.

The swing for Bobrovsky was one in every of a number of Canada Day strikes because the Maple Leafs look to rebound from a disappointing season.

Toronto GM John Chayka, who was employed in Might, additionally signed depth forwards Jack Roslovic, Colton Sissons, Teddy Blueger and Zack MacEwen.

Chayka additionally acquired ahead Nick Paul from the Lightning, transport goalie Dennis Hildeby, a 2027 fourth-round decide and a 2028 third-round choice to Tampa Bay.

Earlier Wednesday, Toronto traded pending restricted free agent Nick Robertson to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a fourth-round decide in 2028.

The Edmonton Oilers parted with longtime defenceman Darnell Nurse, sending him to the San Jose Sharks for blueliner Shakir Mukhamadullin and prospect Zack Sharp in a deal that didn’t embody any wage retention.

The Oilers then shortly made use of the freed up area from Nurse’s $9.25 million wage, signing free-agent defenceman Ryan Shea to a five-year, $20-million pact.

“We’re definitely buying and selling away an excellent participant in Darnell who ate up plenty of minutes,” Oilers GM Stan Bowman mentioned. “We’ve obtained two defencemen now coming in which are going to have the ability to convey completely different parts to the desk, however I feel all in all it’s going to be an enormous enhance for our defence.”

Bowman additionally added within the crease, signing Frederik Andersen, recent off of a Stanley Cup championship with the Carolina Hurricanes. Andersen agreed to a one-year, $2.8 million deal.

The Oilers additionally swung a take care of the Buffalo Sabres, getting goalie Devon Levi and a 2028 seventh-round decide for a 2028 third-rounder.

The Winnipeg Jets, in the meantime, signed former Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner to a two-year, $7.5-million contract amid rumours that Hart Trophy-winning netminder Connor Hellebuyck might be on the transfer.

Skinner reached the Stanley Cup last with the Oilers in 2024 and 2025 earlier than being traded to the Penguins final season. The 27-year-old posted a .888 save proportion and a 2.92 goals-against common in 50 video games cut up between the 2 groups.

“Enjoying in opposition to Winnipeg, I at all times felt prefer it was a very arduous constructing to play in,” Skinner mentioned. “The followers are wonderful there. They’re at all times cheering on their Jets. They’re very passionate and that’s extraordinarily thrilling for me.”

In Vancouver, the Canucks traded defenceman Marcus Pettersson to the New York Rangers for a conditional first-round decide within the 2030 draft.

The Canucks additionally introduced again journeyman defenceman Luke Schenn for the third time on a one-year, $2.25-million deal and added fellow blueliner Jamie Oleksiak on a two-year pact for $5 million.

Elsewhere, the Ottawa Senators signed goalie Samuel Ersson to a two-year, $4.4-million deal and prolonged Nick Cousins on a two-year contract value $3.175 million.

Different notable offers:

— The Oilers re-signed ahead Kasperi Kapanen to a one-year, $2.6 million contract.

— Longtime Winnipeg backup Eric Comrie signed a two-year, $2.3-million contract with the San Jose Sharks.

— The Canucks added ahead Paul Cotter for one yr at $2.15 million.

— Defenceman Nick Jensen exits Ottawa on a two-year take care of the Anaheim Geese for $4.5 million.

— Ahead Joe Veleno signed a one-year contract with the New York Rangers after spending final season with the Canadiens.

— Former Leafs winger Matias Maccelli signed a one-year take care of the New York Islanders.

— Former Senators centre Lars Eller inked a one-year contract with the Panthers.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed July 1, 2026.