Macklin Celebrini’s new deal has set off a fresh round of salary comparisons across the NHL, and it’s the Montreal Canadiens who come out looking especially sharp.
The San Jose Sharks have locked up their young star on a five-year extension worth $18.8 million annually, making Celebrini the highest-paid player in the league. It’s a massive number, and the short term only adds to the impact: the contract gives Celebrini maximum annual money while keeping his next negotiation closer on the horizon.
That’s exactly why the focus has shifted back to Kent Hughes in Montreal. The Canadiens GM recently signed Ivan Demidov and Lane Hutson to deals that are already being viewed as bargains. Hutson will make $8.85 million per year for the next eight years, while Demidov will earn $9.15 million annually over the same span.
Put together, Demidov and Hutson will count for $18 million per year. Celebrini alone will make more than that. And unlike the Sharks’ star, both Canadiens players are tied up for three more seasons beyond his five-year term.
There’s no question Celebrini earned his payday. But the contract still puts Montreal’s work in a brighter light, especially with the way Hughes handled two of the organization’s most important young players.
The reaction was immediate, and it even drew praise for the Canadiens’ front office from David Ettedgui:
"It seemed to me that he'd take a team discount... I'm afraid to ask what it should have been before the discount, lol!
Honestly, there wasn't any discount-he signed for the best amount and the best terms he could get. And you know what?
He deserves it 100%, he didn't steal it!
But what can we say then about Hughes's work? Wow, spectacular!... no one will match them in the ability to add quality players to surround their stars whenever they want.
The Canadiens are the big winner of this signing."
In Other News...
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The biggest immediate wrinkle for Montreal supporters is the timing: Wednesday night NHL games in Canada are set to move to Prime Video beginning in the 2026-27 season. For the Canadiens, that means seven games will be part of the package, adding another layer of adjustment for fans who have already seen the way they follow the team evolve in recent years. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Just Showed Exactly What They Value In This Rebuild
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He has gone from top power-play quarterback to a second-unit role and then into penalty-kill duty, all while remaining a steady presence for a team still sorting out its long-term blue line. Kent Hughes has made it clear he sees Matheson as the kind of player who puts team success ahead of individual numbers, and the extension gives Montreal a reliable piece whose value could shift again if the lineup changes around Lane Hutson or Noah Dobson. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Fans Wont All Agree On This Kirby Dach Trade Twist
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The twist is less about whether Montreal is listening and more about what Dach represents in those talks. His injuries, uneven play and uncertain availability have all fed into a murky valuation, and any move would almost certainly need more than just one player going the other way. The Canadiens would likely have to add more to the package, and for now the whole thing remains speculative, which is why the debate around Dach feels so much bigger than a simple trade rumor. [Read more 🡒]