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The Montreal Canadiens already have one big-money defenseman locked in with Noah Dobson. Now, all eyes are on Lane Hutson, the young rising star who just wrapped up a breakout rookie season. With the salary cap increasing and player values rising, Hutson might soon be getting a massive extension of his own.
In June, Montreal traded for 25-year-old Dobson and gave him a huge eight-year, $76 million contract. That deal set a new bar for what the Canadiens are willing to spend on elite defensemen. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman mentioned on his podcast that Montreal had originally hoped to keep Hutson’s future deal under Nick Suzuki’s $63 million contract. But with the way the market is shifting, and after Dobson’s deal, that idea might already be outdated.
Friedman said that if the Canadiens plan to sign Hutson for the long term, the numbers will likely land much closer to Dobson’s $76 million than Suzuki’s $63 million. That’s a difference of about $1.6 million per year over eight seasons, and it could make a big impact as the Canadiens shape their roster for the future.
Hutson is only 21 years old and was drafted in the second round by Montreal in 2022. He played at Boston University and grew up in Michigan. Though he only got a brief taste of NHL action in the 2023-24 season with two games, 2024-25 was his first full year, and he was nothing short of electric.
As a 20-year-old for most of the season, Hutson recorded an incredible 60 assists and six goals. On top of his offensive skill, he also showed grit by blocking 123 shots. His performance earned him the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s best rookie.
Despite being only 5-foot-9, Hutson has proven he can handle the NHL’s speed and physicality. He’s already become a core piece of Montreal’s future. For a player of his talent, it may be smart for the Canadiens to sign him sooner rather than later. If he keeps up this level of play, waiting could mean paying even more down the line.
With the Dobson contract as a clear comparison, Hutson’s extension may not come cheap. But for a player who could anchor the blue line for years, it looks like money well spent.