A new deal for Macklin Celebrini has only sharpened the conversation around Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens.
The Sharks’ young phenom has signed a five-year contract, and the number attached to it is the kind that makes the rest of the league take notice. It is a historic deal for a player who just put up 115 points, including 45 goals, on a very average team.
David Ettedgui, with credit to Marco D’Amico, used the signing to make a bigger point about where Montreal stands right now. In his view, the Canadiens are benefiting from a market that is shifting fast, and San Jose were the last club capable of locking up their stars at reasonable prices. That window, he believes, is now closed.
That leaves Montreal in a rare spot. Ettedgui sees the Canadiens as the team best positioned to take a major swing at a player like Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews, while also building around their own core.
Ivan Demidov is already signed long term after a 62-point rookie season. Lane Hutson is another huge piece of the puzzle, and Ettedgui pointed to the value there as a major reason for Montreal’s advantage. An elite 78-point defenseman earning less than $9 million per season for eight years is, in his words, incredible for a team’s salary structure.
And Demidov and Hutson are not one-off wins. Kent Hughes has pieced together several contracts like this since taking over, giving the Canadiens a growing list of deals that look better as league prices keep climbing.
That matters for more than just the bottom line. It gives Hughes room to add quality players around his stars whenever he wants, and that flexibility is what has Ettedgui thinking big.
“But what can we say then about Hughes's work? Wow, spectacular!
The Canadiens may have just ensured they'll win the Stanley Cup-not just because they'll have one of the most talented teams, but because no one will match them in the ability to add quality players to surround their stars whenever they want.”
It’s a bold claim, but the broader point is clear: after Celebrini’s five-year deal, Montreal’s position looks stronger than ever.
In Other News...
Michael Hage's Canadiens Timeline Suddenly Feels Far Less Certain
Michael Hage had been lining up for a third season at the University of Michigan, with the idea of staying in college to keep developing his game while also getting a chance to skate alongside his brother Alexander. It was a pretty tidy plan for the Canadiens prospect, one that fit the usual patient path Montreal has encouraged with some of its young players.
Now, though, the family timeline has shifted. Alexander is expected to spend another season in the OHL with the Niagara IceDogs rather than head to Michigan, and that could change the calculus for Michael as he weighs whether to keep his NCAA route intact or move closer to the professional game. No decision has been reported yet, but the situation has suddenly made his next step a lot less predictable for Montreal. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Blue Line Picture Just Changed With One Target Now Fading
Arber Xhekajs offseason has settled into a waiting game, with the Canadiens defenseman still unsigned as a restricted free agent. The situation has had a little extra texture because Xhekaj reportedly turned down Montreals qualifying offer and did not file for arbitration, leaving both sides with more room to work toward a deal before camp opens. His agent has said there is no panic and expressed optimism that a contract can still be finished in time.
The backdrop changed a bit on the Flames side, too, after Calgary landed Jake Middleton and reportedly cooled its pursuit of Xhekaj. For Montreal, that removes one more bit of outside noise from a negotiation that has already stretched through the summer, though the real question is still the same one the Canadiens have been facing: how quickly can they lock up a young defenseman who remains part of their long-term picture? [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Could Make 3 Early Moves Before Prices Climb
Kent Hughes has shown a willingness to get ahead of the market, and the Canadiens may have a few more contract decisions to make before those choices get expensive. Montreal is looking at players who could fit into the clubs long-term plans, and the logic is straightforward: if the front office believes a piece belongs in the picture, waiting until the end of the deal can mean paying a higher price later.
The appeal of acting early is obvious with players whose value could rise over the next couple of seasons, but there is also some risk in trying to settle everything too soon. Montreal has to weigh present-day production against future role, and the next round of negotiations could say plenty about how Hughes sees the roster taking shape beyond the 2026-27 season. [Read more 🡒]