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Montreal Canadiens Ivan Demidov speaks to the media during their end of season news conference in Brossard, Que., on Monday, June 1, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
By The Canadian Press

Canadiens sign forward Ivan Demidov to eight-year, US$73-million extension

Jul 1, 2026 | 8:22 AM

BROSSARD — Ivan Demidov is staying in Montreal for the long haul.

The Canadiens signed the skilled Russian forward to an eight-year, US$73-million contract extension Wednesday, according to agent Dan Milstein, locking up another cornerstone of their talented young core.

Demidov, 20, led all NHL rookies with 62 points (19 goals, 43 assists) last season and finished second in Calder Trophy voting.

The extension keeps Demidov with the Canadiens through the 2034-35 season. He joins Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky and Lane Hutson, among others, as key members of Montreal’s young core signed through at least 2030.

Earlier Wednesday, the Toronto Maple Leafs traded pending restricted free agent Nick Robertson to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in 2028.

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Robertson was under contract on a one-year, US$1.825 million deal last season. He produced career-highs of 16 goals and 32 points in 78 games.

The transaction reunites the 24-year-old American forward with former Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas, now the Penguins’ president of hockey operations.

Dubas drafted Robertson to Toronto in the second round (53rd overall) of the 2019 NHL draft.

Elsewhere, the Ottawa Senators re-signed Nick Cousins to a two-year contract worth US$3.175 million Wednesday morning, keeping the veteran forward off the free-agent market.

Cousins registered nine goals, 23 points and 92 penalty minutes in 81 games for the Senators last season, his second in the nation’s capital.

His previous deal was set to expire when free agency opened at 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

A third-round draft pick by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2011, Cousins has collected 86 goals and 218 points with seven different teams across parts of 12 NHL seasons.

The 32-year-old from Belleville, Ont., won a Stanley Cup championship with the Florida Panthers in 2024 before joining Ottawa the following season.

The Senators have had a busy off-season already, trading captain Brady Tkachuk to the Panthers and acquiring forward William Eklund from the San Jose Sharks.

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

The Canadian Press



by The Canadian Press

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