Impact of Recent Contracts on Lane Hutson
Recent contract agreements have the potential to impact Lane Hutson’s prospective deal with the Montreal Canadiens. On October 1, the New Jersey Devils secured defenseman Luke Hughes for seven years at an average annual salary of $9 million, resolving a prolonged negotiation that extended through both training camp and pre-season. The following day, the Anaheim Ducks extended blueliner Jackson LaCombe with a historic eight-year contract, also valued at an average of $9 million, marking the richest deal in the team’s history.
Hutson’s Contract Situation
At the age of 21, Hutson is entering the last year of his entry-level contract. Following a stellar rookie season, where he clinched the Calder Memorial Trophy for 2024-25, he finds himself in a similar situation as Hughes: if he remains unsigned by the end of this season, he won’t qualify for arbitration nor receive an offer sheet from any competing team. His primary bargaining chip would be the option to forgo training camp next September should a contract not be in place by then.
Analysts Weigh In
With these recent signings in mind, analysts are speculating on what it might take for the Canadiens to retain Hutson. Pierre LeBrun from The Athletic suggests that Hughes’ contract serves as a benchmark for young defensemen like Hutson transitioning from entry-level deals. Meanwhile, The Hockey News’ Adam Proteau argues that due to Hutson’s impressive performance, including 60 assists in the previous season, high ice time, and 123 blocked shots, he merits a contract with a higher average annual value than Hughes.
Marco D’Amico from RG.org hints that the Canadiens have a strategic advantage to keep Hutson’s cap hit around $9 million by leveraging signing bonuses and retirement compensation, which could substantially enhance Hutson’s actual earnings. TVA Sports’ Nicolas Cloutier adds that if Hutson continues his strong performance this season, his negotiating power will only increase, urging the Canadiens to reach an agreement sooner rather than later to avoid a more expensive deal down the line.
Current Negotiations and Future Outlook
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently reported that discussions between Hutson’s camp and the Canadiens are already taking place, and there is a belief that the contract could align more closely with the terms set forth for Hughes and LaCombe.
As of early October, the landscape is favorable for talented young defensemen in the NHL. According to PuckPedia, the Canadiens are projected to have approximately $36.7 million in salary cap space for the 2026-27 season, with only 15 players on the active roster under contract. This cap flexibility allows management to effectively negotiate long-term contracts with their emerging stars. Players like Nick Suzuki ($7.875 million annually through 2029-30), Cole Caufield ($7.85 million through 2030-31), and Juraj Slafkovsky ($7.6 million through 2033) have already secured attractive deals. Locking down Hutson for an average of $9 million would represent a strategic investment, potentially facilitating the franchise’s plan for sustained competitiveness in the years to come.
