Lane Hutson’s new deal with the Canadiens has become a talking point for all the wrong reasons - at least if you’re trying to judge it by the current market.
With Quinn Hughes reportedly close to landing somewhere in the $17 million to $18 million range per year, Hutson’s $8.85 million annual cap hit over the next eight years suddenly looks like a steal for Kent Hughes and Montreal. After Bowen Byram signed for $12.5 million per season, the chatter only got louder: did Hutson leave money on the table, and could he end up regretting it?
Anthony Desaulniers pushed back on that idea and said he doesn’t see any sign of buyer’s remorse from the young defenseman.
"I don't think he regrets it.
He looked uncomfortable at the start of the season before the contract was signed."
That reading lines up with the idea that the deal gave Hutson something more valuable than a bigger number on paper: peace of mind. Desaulniers added that Hutson seemed to settle in after the agreement was done.
"He was clearly relieved afterward," he added, suggesting that the security of the deal actually helped Hutson's game.
There’s also another layer to the contract that works in Hutson’s favor. The way the agreement is structured means he’ll collect more money in the early years, which gives him a meaningful financial boost beyond the average annual value.
So for anyone wondering whether Hutson is sitting there second-guessing his decision, the answer from Desaulniers is simple: no. In his view, the long-term security matters more than squeezing out every last dollar.
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Canadiens Could Make 3 Early Moves Before Prices Climb
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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 🡒]