Montreal Canadiens Re-Sign Lane Hutson

by | Oct 13, 2025

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.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 13, 2025

by | Oct 13, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 13, 2025

The latest on the Oilers’ goaltending and a suggested trade target for the Golden Knights in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples cited Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer and TSN’s Ryan Rishaug suggesting it’s now or never for Stuart Skinner to establish himself as a reliable starting goaltender. If he can’t, there will be changes.

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (NHL Images).

Rishaug told Stauffer that the Oilers intend to let it ride for a little while with Skinner as their starting netminder. However, the 26-year-old goalie is on the clock to prove himself.

The Oilers recently acquired Connor Ingram from the Utah Mammoth, who is currently with the Oilers’ AHL affiliate in Bakersfield, getting up to speed after missing training camp and the preseason.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Staples observes that the Oilers’ “Plan B” will be Ingram if Skinner struggles to nail down the starter’s job. The trade market for goalies is thin right now, but it might improve a little over the course of the season if the Oilers feel they must seek a “Plan C” option before the March trade deadline.

TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons believes that, if the Oilers don’t win the Stanley Cup this season, they can go out and sign Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. He pointed out that they’ll have the money and cap space to do it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Simmons is assuming that the Panthers won’t re-sign Bobrovsky and that he’ll want to play for the Oilers if he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer. Don’t rule out the Panthers finding a way to keep Bobrovsky in the fold.

LAS VEGAS SUN: Case Keefer suggested Rasmus Andersson as a potential trade target this season for the Golden Knights. The 28-year-old Calgary Flames defenseman is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Andersson has stood out above the rest in offseason trade rumors. It’s expected he’ll be traded before the March 6 trade deadline. The Golden Knights are reportedly his destination of choice.

Keefer noted that Mitch Marner was linked to the Golden Knights last season before he ultimately landed in Vegas. “Andersson might be even trickier financially, but it’s hard to rule anything out.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights are pressed for cap space for this season, having placed defenseman Alex Pietrangelo on long-term injury reserve. They’ll have to shed salary if they intend to take on the remainder of Andersson’s cap hit for this season by the trade deadline. The same goes for next summer if they want to sign him as a UFA.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 13, 2025

by | Oct 13, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 13, 2025

The Capitals shut out the Rangers, injury updates on the Penguins’ Kris Letang, the Bruins’ Hampus Lindholm, and the Blue Jackets’ Eric Gudbranson, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren made 35 saves to blank the New York Rangers 1-0. Anthony Beauvillier scored the only goal as the Capitals have won two of their first three games of the season. Jonathan Quick stopped 20 shots for the Rangers, who’ve won two of their first four contests.

Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Rangers placed defenseman Carson Soucy (upper body) on injured reserve. He suffered the injury during Saturday’s 6-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins defenseman Kris Letang is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury suffered during Saturday’s loss to the Rangers.

NESN: Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm (lower-body injury) is unlikely to play in Monday’s matinee against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He’s listed as day-to-day but could return later in the week.

CBS SPORTS: Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson is being evaluated for an upper-body injury suffered during Saturday’s game against the Minnesota Wild.

NHL.COM: Utah Mammoth defenseman Ian Cole was fined $2,500.00 by the NHL department of player safety for a dangerous trip against Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos on Saturday.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks blueliner Tyler Myers was fined $2,500.00 for slashing Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid on Saturday.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs forward Easton Cowan will make his NHL debut on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cowan, 20, was chosen in the first round (28th overall) by the Maple Leafs in the 2023 NHL Draft. He’s considered their top prospect.

TSN: The Florida Panthers signed forward Jonah Gadjovich to a two-year contract extension.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: PuckPedia indicates the 27-year-old Gadjovich will receive an average annual value of $905K.

OTTAWA SUN: Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven (upper-body injury) will return to the lineup for Monday’s game against the Predators.

WINNIPEG SUN: Jets blueliner Haydn Fleury is day-to-day with a bruised knee.

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens reports San Jose Sharks owner Hasso Plattner recently raised eyebrows with some pointed comments about previous moves made by his club.

Plattner admitted that letting long-time Sharks forward Joe Pavelski depart to the Dallas Stars as a free agent was a mistake. He said acquiring defenseman Erik Karlsson may have been great in theory but not in practice, admitting he’d been a good player but not a team-friendly one.

The Sharks owner also admitted the long-term contracts for Karlsson, Tomas Hertl, and Marc-Edouard Vlasic put off a necessary rebuild, and that he backed current general manager Mike Grier’s work in building up the roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hindsight in 20-20 and those regrets won’t change history. What matters now for the Sharks is that Grier’s rebuilding efforts continue to have Plattner’s support. The Sharks GM completed the teardown two years ago and has done a good job building up the roster with good young players and veteran acquisitions.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – October 12, 2025

by | Oct 12, 2025

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – October 12, 2025

Check out the latest on Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, the Rangers’ potential plans for next year’s UFA market, plus the latest on Martin Necas in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

CANADIENS TO KEEP HUTSON’S CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS PRIVATE

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Montreal Canadiens and the representatives for Lane Hutson have agreed to take their contract negotiations out of the public eye. There is concern that the 21-year-old defenseman is being affected by his contract talks, which are the subject of public speculation. 

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (NHL Images).

Friedman believes the two sides are continuing negotiations. However, they won’t discuss it with the media, allowing Hutson to focus on his game. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The recent contracts signed by New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes and Anaheim Ducks blueliner Jackson LaCombe shifted the focus toward Hutson. In hockey-mad Montreal, anything to do with a rising star like Hutson will generate speculation and headlines. 

It must be remembered that Hutson is in the final season of his entry-level contract. The Canadiens control his rights until July 2031, when he’s eligible to become an unrestricted free agent. He’s slated to become a restricted free agent next July without arbitration rights and will be ineligible to receive an offer sheet, giving the Canadiens considerable leverage. 

Most of the speculation centers on whether the average annual value of Hutson’s contract will be between $9 million and $10 million or possibly higher. So far, there’s no chatter suggesting the Canadiens might trade the 2025 Calder Trophy winner, but it’s bound to come up the longer this goes on. And no, the Canadiens won’t trade him, and no, he doesn’t want to move. 

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE RANGERS WITH THE TOP UFA TALENT OFF THE MARKET?

THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh wondered what the New York Rangers will do now that the biggest names who were eligible to become unrestricted free agents next summer have re-signed with their respective teams. 

It was believed that the Rangers intended to pursue Connor McDavid if the Edmonton Oilers superstar had gone to market next year. Three of their core forwards (J.T. Miller, Mika Zibanejad, and Vincent Trocheck) are 32 years old. 

That leaves the Rangers facing a tough decision regarding left winger Artemi Panarin, who turns 34 later this month. They have no clear path to replacing his production, but signing him to another expensive contract comes with risk. 

Rangers general manager Chris Drury could pursue younger talent in the trade market, such as winger Jason Robertson, depending on how his contract talks go with the Dallas Stars. Other intriguing UFA options include forwards like Adrian Kempe of the Los Angeles Kings, Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres, and Martin Necas of the Colorado Avalanche. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panarin is now the biggest name in next summer’s UFA market, which could lead to his departure if he and the Rangers can’t agree to an extension. Meanwhile, there’s no certainty that Kempe, Tuch, and Necas will still be available by next July. 

That could force Drury to go the trade route, provided he’s still the Rangers GM by that point. Another finish outside the playoff standings could cost him his job. 

THE LATEST ON MARTIN NECAS

SPORTSNET: Michael Amato wondered if Martin Necas could price himself out of Colorado. 

The 26-year-old Avalanche winger is UFA-eligible next July. He tallied 83 points last season, divided between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Avalanche, and could reach a career-high 90 points skating alongside Nathan MacKinnon for a full season. 

If Necas gets close to 90 points, he could seek a raise over his current $6 million average annual value to an AAV exceeding $10 million. If he does, it’ll raise questions as to why they didn’t just pay Mikko Rantanen, whom they traded last January to the Carolina Hurricanes in a three-team trade that brought Necas to Colorado. 

The Avalanche must also ensure they have sufficient long-term salary-cap room to re-sign Cale Makar. The superstar defenseman is UFA-eligible in 2027 and can sign an extension starting next summer. Some estimates suggest he could seek a cap hit that rivals the $17 million AAV of Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Necas’ contract situation will be closely watched. Amato wondered if the Avalanche would trade a key player like Brock Nelson, Devon Toews, Valeri Nichushkin, or Mackenzie Blackwood to free up cap room for Necas and Makar.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 12, 2025

by | Oct 12, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 12, 2025

A hat trick performance by the Blue Jackets’ Kirill Marchenko, Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer netted his first goal, the Ducks downed the Sharks in a wild, high-scoring contest, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Columbus Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko’s hat trick powered his club to a 7-4 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Elvis Merzlikins kicked out 48 shots, and Zach Werenski and Boone Jenner each had a goal and two assists for the Blue Jackets. Kirill Kaprizov scored twice and collected an assist, and Zeev Buium tallied his first NHL goal and picked up an assist for the Wild.

Columbus Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jenner’s goal was the 200th of his NHL career, joining Rick Nash and Cam Atkinson as the only players in franchise history to reach that milestone.

New York Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer scored his first NHL goal, but his club dropped a 4-2 decision to the Washington Capitals. Aliaksei Protas scored two goals and added an assist for the Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schaefer was the first-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. He collected his first NHL assist in his first game on Thursday.

An overtime goal by Leo Carlsson lifted the Anaheim Ducks over the San Jose Sharks 7-6. The Ducks erased a 6-4 deficit in the third period. Carlsson also had two assists, Mason McTavish had three assists, and Chris Kreider and Cutter Gauthier each scored twice for the Ducks. Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith each picked up three assists, but Celebrini’s turnover led to Carlsson’s winning goal.

A shootout goal by Mikko Rantanen gave the Dallas Stars a 5-4 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Jake Oettinger made 35 saves, and Thomas Harley had a goal and an assist for the Stars. Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas each had a goal and two assists for the Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Avalanche announced that defenseman Samuel Girard would miss this game and is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele tallied two goals as his club rallied from a 2-1 deficit to beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-2. Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves for the Jets. Adrian Kempe had a goal and an assist for the Kings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets defenseman Haydn Fleury left this game in the second period after blocking a shot by Kempe.

Three straight power-play goals by Aaron Ekblad, Anton Lundell, and Mackie Samoskevich powered the Florida Panthers to a 6-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. Ekblad, Lundell, and Brad Marchand each had a goal and an assist for the Panthers, extending their season-opening win streak to three games. Senators center Shane Pinto scored twice for the second straight game.

The Boston Bruins extended their season-opening win streak to three games with a 3-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Mark Kastelic had a goal and an assist for the Bruins. Jason Zucker replied for the Sabres, who have only one goal in their first two games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff told reporters that sidelined center Josh Norris is expected to miss a significant amount of time with an upper-body injury. Norris is still undergoing evaluation, and it’s uncertain how long he’ll be out of action.

Detroit Red Wings forwards Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat each had three points as their club overcame a 2-0 deficit to upset the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3. Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond scored twice, including his 100th career NHL goal. Morgan Rielly and Nicolas Roy each had two points for the Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs forward Steven Lorentz exited this game in the first period with a suspected head injury. The Leafs appeared to have difficulty at times adjusting to the Red Wings‘ speed in this game.

The New York Rangers thumped the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-1, giving head coach Mike Sullivan his first victory against his former team. Adam Fox scored two goals and picked up an assist. Penguins rookie Ben Kindel tallied his first NHL goal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Rangers announced center Vincent Trocheck is week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Rangers defenseman Carson Soucy exited in the second period with an upper-body injury.

Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang left in the third period with an undisclosed injury and is undergoing evaluation. The Penguins activated forward Bryan Rust off injured reserve and sent forward Ville Koivunen to their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

New Jersey Devils forward Connor Brown potted two goals, and Nico Hischier had a goal and an assist in a 5-3 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Luke Hughes also had two assists for the Devils. Max Crozier picked up two assists for the Lightning.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Devils announced that forward Evgenii Dadonov has been sidelined with a fractured hand. A timeline for his return has yet to be determined.

The Carolina Hurricanes nipped the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 on an overtime goal by Seth Jarvis. Bobby Brink had a goal and an assist for the Flyers, who got a 35-save performance by Samuel Ersson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Brink appeared to have scored the winning goal in overtime, but it was overturned for goalie interference by teammate Travis Sanheim. Flyers winger Matvei Michkov saw limited ice time and was benched during overtime by head coach Rick Tocchet. “I just wanted the guys who I thought were skating,” Tocchet said.

It was a costly win for the Hurricanes as top defenseman Jaccob Slavin left the game in the third period with an undisclosed injury. His status for the remainder of their road trip remains unclear. Earlier in the day, the Hurricanes announced that goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov is out for at least a week with a lower-body injury.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle scored with 15 seconds remaining in the third period to give his club a 3-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks. Cole Caufield scored his first goal of the season, and Zach Bolduc tallied his third straight goal for the Canadiens. Sam Rinzel and Connor Bedard replied for the Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Montreal captain Nick Suzuki collected three assists while Caufield and Bolduc finished with two points each. The Canadiens had 10 power-play opportunities but only scored on two of them.

Edmonton Oilers forward Noah Philp scored his first NHL goal, and Leon Draisaitl scored a shorthanded empty-netter in a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Quinn Hughes collected an assist on a goal by Brock Boeser, becoming the Canucks’ all-time franchise points leader for defensemen with 410.

The Utah Mammoth got an overtime goal by Dylan Guenther to defeat the Nashville Predators 3-2. Logan Cooley and Jack McBain also scored for the Mammoth. Filip Forsberg and Erik Haula replied for the Predators.

Third-period goals by Jake Neighbours and Pius Suter enabled the St. Louis Blues to double up the Calgary Flames 4-2. Neighbours finished with two goals, and Robert Thomas had a goal and an assist. Matt Coronato scored both goals for the Flames.

Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann scored with four seconds remaining in overtime to upset the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1. Matty Beniers also scored for the Kraken. Pavel Dorofeyev tallied his league-leading fifth goal of the season.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 11, 2025

by | Oct 11, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 11, 2025

In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we have the latest on the Canadiens and a ranking of next summer’s best remaining UFA-eligible players.

UPDATE ON HUTSON’S CONTRACT TALKS, CANADIENS URGED TO RE-SIGN MATHESON.

TVA SPORTS: Jonathan Bernier reports the Montreal Canadiens and Lane Hutson could be closing in on a contract extension.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (NHL Images).

Hutson’s agent, Ryan Barnes, was spotted with Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday during the Habs game against the Detroit Red Wings. It’s also believed Hughes had a busy morning after the Canadiens arrived in Chicago on Friday.

If the two sides were discussing an extension for Hutson, Bernier wondered if it would be a three-year bridge deal or a maximum eight-year contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was reported earlier this week that the two sides had come close to an agreement on an eight-year deal and were taking a cooling-off period when an agreement failed to materialize. Things may have picked up again after Thursday’s meeting in Detroit.

In a recent interview, Hughes remained optimistic about getting Hutson re-signed, reminding nervous Canadiens fans that the 21-year-old defenseman isn’t eligible for unrestricted free-agent status until 2031.

The Canadiens want to re-sign Hutson, and he wants to be part of the franchise. The average annual value of his next contract seems to be the sticking point. It could come in at between $9 million and $10 million annually, though it wouldn’t be surprising if it went slightly above $10 million.

Meanwhile, NHL analyst Renaud Lavoie believes Mike Matheson is a more than reliable asset on the Canadiens’ blueline. He thinks that they must do everything they can to keep the 31-year-old defenseman.

Eligible for UFA status next July, Matheson is in the final season of an eight-year contract with a cap hit of $4.875 million. Lavoie praised his all-around play and thinks being paired with Noah Dobson this season will improve his game and lighten some of his workload.

During the Canadiens’ golf tournament last month, Matheson said that he wanted to stay in Montreal as long as possible and that contract discussions had begun.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matheson’s role as the Canadiens’ blueline workhorse over the last three seasons opened him up for criticism whenever he’d make a defensive mistake. However, management has consistently praised his efforts, as have his teammates.

As Lavoie pointed out, the improved depth on the Canadiens’ blueline could reduce Matheson’s workload, in turn improving his game. Don’t be surprised if the Canadiens re-sign him before next July.

RANKING THE REMAINDER OF NEXT SUMMER’S TOP UFA-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

USA TODAY: Mike Brehm considers Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe as the best player who is eligible for UFA status next summer. The ranking was made after Jack Eichel re-signed with the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday.

New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin is No. 2 on Brehm’s list, followed by Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas at No. 3, Buffalo Sabres power forward Alex Tuch at No. 4, and Utah Mammoth forward Nick Schmaltz at No. 5

Rounding out the list is Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson, New Jersey Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom, Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin, and New York Islanders winger Anders Lee.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kempe, Bobrovsky, Carlson, Markstrom, and Ovechkin are most likely to re-sign with their current clubs. Tuch wants to re-sign with the Sabres, but that could depend on what type of season they have.