The Calder Winner does not appear to be going anywhere.
Here is what Marco D’Amico of RG had to say about Lane Hutson’s contract situation with the Montreal Canadiens as he enters the final year of his deal:
“Sources indicate that both parties are in a very good place and feel confident a deal will eventually get done; contract discussions are currently ongoing.”
Hutson, 21, was incredible in his debut campaign. He netted six goals and 66 points, all while playing a sturdy defensive game, en route to winning the Calder Trophy.
More importantly, he helped guide the Canadiens to their first Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance since 2021, when they fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Final.
Beyond Hutson’s dominance amongst his classmates, he finished ninth in Norris voting and looks poised to become a No. 1 defenseman for a long, long time.
Montreal should feel great about its young, dynamic d-core with Hutson leading the charge, Noah Dobson manning the right side, and Kaiden Guile, Jayden Struble, and veteran Mike Matheson still around, too.
For Hutson, the ideal contract should look something like seven years, $56 million total. Regardless of where that annual average value lands, he is a cornerstone piece and worthy of every dime he demands.
The Florida Panthers reign supreme until further notice, but this iteration of the Eastern Conference is not as fearsome as previous years, and there is no reason the Canadiens can not make some noise over the next several seasons.
Retaining Hutson, whom they selected 62nd overall in the 2022 Draft, is the next step in securing that bright future.
