What Will Lane Hutson's Next Contract Look Like?

Despite a loss last night in Detroit, over the last six weeks, the Montreal Canadiens have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL and firmly find themselves in the Eastern Conference playoff race. While many players on the Habs have stepped up during this stretch, rookie defenseman Lane Hutson has been the talk of the town in Montreal, as he currently leads the league in rookie scoring as a defenseman, with 39 points on the season.

At just 20 years old, Hutson has already established himself as one of the best players in the Canadiens' lineup. He stands out with his calmness when he has the puck, showcasing his dynamic skating ability.

Although he is only in his first full rookie season, the Canadiens burned one year off his entry-level contract last season when he made his NHL debut during the final week of the campaign. As a result, Hutson will be eligible to begin extension talks with the Canadiens this summer, as he is scheduled to enter restricted free agency after the 2025–26 season. It’s not too early to speculate on what Hutson’s next deal in Montreal could look like.

Kent Hughes and the Canadiens management presently have a framework they like to use when signing their young players in to keep them long-term. Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki recently agreed to eight-year contracts at just less than $8 million a year. These contracts show Montreal's commitment to financial stability while retaining their best players. Given his development into a key member of the Canadiens' blue line, it would be logical for Montreal to offer to a similar deal to Hutson.

Negotiations, however, may become more difficult due to the quickly increasing salary cap. According to reports, by the beginning of the 2026–2027 season, the NHL cap may have increased to $112 million. At the time, Suzuki and Caufield's deals were signed, that was an appropriate number for young players of their caliber. With the increased cap number, it will probably mean we see players second contracts start to get a bit more expensive.

While unlikely, It's possible that Hutson's AAV could surpass that of Suzuki and Caufield and reach the $8 million mark on a long-term contract if he continues to develop as projected, especially if he goes onto win the Calder trophy and helps get the Canadiens to playoffs this spring. 

Personally, I would try to get Hutson to take the six-year, $47.1 million contract that Canucks captain Quinn Hughes is now playing on which Hughes signed in 2021. Hughes contract has an annual value each year of $7.85 million on the cap.

I know that Montreal would like an eight-year contract, but given the circumstances and the growing cap, I think Huston could want more than Hutson and Caufield if he is going to commit to the Habs for such a long time. To keep Hutson locked in for the long run while preserving their cap structure and future financial flexibility, the Canadiens will need to handle this wisely.

My prediction is that Hutson signs a 6-year deal with an AAV of $7.5 million with the Canadiens when his extension talks open this summer. Hutson will probably be worth more than this if his play continues to improve over the next few seasons, but Montreal will get their star rookie locked up—just not for as long as they would have liked. Still, it’s a long-term contract that will keep him with the organization for years to come.