Habs Daily: Salary Cap Options, Ivan Demidov, Pezzetta

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, highlights, and stories you may have missed on Tuesday.

Montreal Canadiens News

The Montreal Canadiens are in uncharted territory; for the first time in over six years, they’ve got a significant amount of real cap space and don’t need to use it. That kind of wiggle room not only sets up the Canadiens nicely on the trade front either this summer or at the 2025 NHL trade deadline, but it also could help out a great deal next summer. [Canadiens Quiet Free Agency To Provide Cap Advantage For 2025]

Ivan Demidov is yet to take to the ice for SKA Saint Petersburg during their development camp. He’s still dealing with the lower-body injury that took place during his impressive playoff run last season.

TVA Sports’ Nicholas Cloutier on July 15th: “Ivan Demidov is not at the SKA development camp today because he is still recovering from an injury, his agent Dan Milstein confirms to me.”

Day 9 of SKA dev. camp, still no sign of Ivan Demidov, so assuming he’s still injured. pic.twitter.com/1Pir3Tz0CC

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) July 23, 2024

Speaking of Demidov, I know we’re used to seeing a highlight video following ever mention in the Habs Daily, but this time around we’re going to switch it up and post a video of Demidov and his girlfriend trying American candy.

Ivan Demidov’s girlfriend has a YouTube channel.

Here’s their most recent video where they try American snacks 🍬 pic.twitter.com/NJ3MxEMvuZ

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) July 24, 2024

Okay fine, have another Demidov highlight, you fiends! This one was edited by one of my favourite scouts, Hadi Kalakeche.

There are five guarantees in life. Death, taxes, being bad at math, and athletes playing in Canada complaining about taxes! Jokes aside, Michael Pezzetta is one of the most affable players in the lineup. He’s also quite polite when it comes to any sort of media matter, and few players around the league practice harder than he does.

Taxes in Montreal are no joke! Michael Pezzetta up now on all platforms! 🇨🇦 ⁦@CamandStrick⁩ #GohabsGo pic.twitter.com/iFelM7o7Mz

— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) July 23, 2024

National Hockey Now Network

New Pittsburgh Penguins forward Kevin Hayes is searching for a role. Ready to join his third team in three seasons, the 32-year-old Hayes admitted he didn’t find a role or comfort last season with the St. Louis Blues, and the season before that, he didn’t exactly see eye-to-eye with Philadelphia Flyers coach John Tortorella. [Pittsburgh Penguins]

As an organization, there comes a time when you need to see a player take that next step. If they don’t, they might get left behind. The Colorado Avalanche have two prospects that are in need of big seasons to show they have what it takes to eventually play at the NHL level. [Colorado Avalanche]

The New Jersey Devils have already begun to hand out invites for September ahead of the 2024-25 regular season. A team source confirms to New Jersey Hockey Now that 6-foot-5, 206 lb defenceman, Igor Mburanumwe, was invited to training camp in this fall. Rookies will report on Sept. 11th. [New Jersey Devils]