The Montreal Canadiens had an extensive contract negotiation with Lane Hutson of Holland, Michigan over the summer. Over the last couple of weeks it was reported that any reports of negotiation for a long term contract between Canadiens General Manager Kent Hughes and Hutson’s agents would not be in the public eye. On Thanksgiving Monday, a deal emerged. The Canadiens signed Hutson to an eight-year contract extension worth $70.8 million.
This means Hutson will have an annual salary of $8.85. The contract extension will start in 2026-27, and end in 2033-34. The $8.85 average salary is a significant pay raise to the $950,000 Hutson is set to earn in 2025-26.
The long term contract is no surprise when you consider the fact that the Calgary Flames signed goaltender Dustin Wolf of Gilroy, California to a seven-year deal worth $52.5 million on September 9. Remember, Hutson beat out Wolf for the Calder Trophy this past season.
What was a bit of a surprise is that the negotiations were at times a little rocky. According to TVA Sports and Gabriel Sami of allhabs.com, Ryan Barnes and Darren Ferris took over negotiations from Sean Coffey. Barnes, Ferris and Coffey all work for Quartexx Management.
2024-25 NHL Statistics
Hutson had six goals and 60 assists for 66 points in 82 games. He was a -2 with 34 penalty minutes, 26 power-play points, 91 shots on goal, 123 blocked shots, 40 hits, 56 takeaways, and 109 giveaways.
Hutson was known for generating impressive offensive skill for a blueliner at such a young age. It is Hutson’s unprecedented play-making skills that is unprecedented and sets him apart from other NHL players who were born in 2004.
Four times Hutson had three points in a game in 2024-25. He had one goal and two assists for three points in a 5-4 Canadiens win over the Vancouver Canucks on January 6. Hutson also had three assists in a 5-3 Canadiens win over the Utah Hockey Club on January 14, three assists in a 4-2 Canadiens win over the Florida Panthers on March 30, and three assists in a 3-2 Canadiens overtime win over the Panthers on April 1.
Hutson in 2025-26
Hutson has one assist for one point after the first three games of the season. His helper came in a 3-2 Canadiens win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. Hutson set up fellow defenseman Kaiden Guhle of Edmonton, Alberta with the game-winning goal with 15 seconds left in regulation. This season, expect Guhle and Hutson to get a lot of playing time together on the Habs’s second defensive pairing.
