Montreal Canadiens Re-Sign Lane Hutson
The Montreal Canadiens announced the signing of defenseman Lane Hutson to an eight-year, $70.8 million contract extension.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Despite weeks of speculation, it didn’t take long for the Canadiens to reach an agreement with Hutson. Starting in 2026-27, the 2025 Calder Memorial Trophy winner will earn an average annual value of $8.85 million.
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (NHL Images).
That’s below the $9 million and $10 million recently bandied about by several pundits. It’s also below the $9 million AAV that Luke Hughes agreed to with the New Jersey Devils, and Jackson LaCombe will start receiving next season with the Anaheim Ducks.
Hughes and LaCombe were predicted to set the market for Hutson, but Canadiens management convinced Hutson to accept a slightly lower AAV.
It can be argued that the circumstances behind the Hughes and LaCombe signings were different than those facing Hutson. The Devils were desperate to get Hughes signed after contract discussions dragged through training camp and preseason. Meanwhile, the Ducks wanted to avoid facing possible salary arbitration with LaCombe next summer.
However, Hutson would’ve faced the same situation as Hughes next year, when he was to become an RFA lacking arbitration rights and ineligible to receive an offer sheet from a rival club. He could’ve played the waiting game through next summer and sought a higher AAV than Hughes and LaCombe, especially if his performance exceeded that of his rookie year.
As with Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky before him, Hutson bought into management’s long-term vision, accepting less than market value on a long-term contract. It’s another indication of the culture the Canadiens are trying to build, one that could lead to a Stanley Cup in the near future.
Another masterclass by Kent Hughes. Hutson believes in his plan just like the others. GHG!!
If he could be effective playing defense as he is at offense this ought to be a decent signing. Lots of time left to learn being so young and grow stronger which he will need going forward.
What you see is what you get, Ron. He’s never going to be a physical player. He was – 2 last season when the Habs leaked goals for much of the season so I don’t see the defensive side being an issue.
I wonder what the Florida has a tax advantage crowd has to say about this one?
They would say he could of signed in Florida for 7.5 and still taken home the same money.
I read that with his contract heavily built on bonuses there are tax breaks because he resides in Michigan.
Brilliant work by Hughes and good on Hutson for not being greedy, but I would have loved to be in the room to hear Hughes’ explanation as to why Dobson was worth more money.
Someone asked me earlier in the Summer if I thought Ottawa would g et back into the playoffs this season … and at the time, while acknowledging that, while it could go both ways – the Atlantic being likely THE toughest Division of the 4 – I thought they had the ingredients to do it again.
Now I see definite signs that this collection – as cohesive “teams” go – is seriously lacking (again) in the crucial 5-on-5 department, and that will be their undoing.
In short, I don’t think think they have a snowball’s chance in Hell of repeating as a playoff team. Tkachuk is turning out to be “brittle” – aside from Sanderson there is little to no consistent offensive support from the back end, and not even a capacity crowd in their home opener could galvanize the offense sufficient to beat one of THE most dysfunctional teams from last season.
It’s going to be a long, painful thing to watch.