In his first NHL season, Hutson has exceeded all expectations and is already establishing himself as a cornerstone of the Canadiens' defensive corps.
He has even relegated Mike Matheson to a secondary role and to the second power-play unit.
His talent has not gone unnoticed, Patrik Laine even stated that Hutson is the best power-play quarterback he has ever played with.
Compared to Adam Fox, a benchmark among young offensive defensemen, Hutson is on an impressive trajectory for a player who is only 20 years old.
Believe it or not, it will happen sooner rather than later.
As his entry-level contract nears its end, one burning question remains: what will his next contract look like?
Experts believe Kent Hughes will want to sign Hutson for the next eight years.
With the rising salary cap, a contract between $55 and $60 million over eight years seems realistic.
This would position Hutson among the highest-paid players on the team while respecting the salary hierarchy set by captain Nick Suzuki ($7.875M per year).
Hutson, selected 62nd overall in 2022, is a true revelation and represents the future of Montreal's defense.
If his progression continues, he could very well become one of the best defensemen of his generation.
Hughes signed a 6 year, $47,100,000 contract with an average salary of $7,850,000 per season. He signed his contract in 2021 when he was 21 years old, and his contract expires at the end of the 2026-27 season, when he will be 27 years old.
Adam Fox
Fox signed a 7 year, $66,500,000 contract with an average salary of $9,500,000 per season. He signed his contract in 2021 when he was 23, and his contract will expire in 2028-29 season, when he will be 31.
If Hutson keeps this play up, he will surely cash in a large contract. He currently has 26 points in 37 games as a 20 year old and was named rookie of the month for December!
POLL | ||
JANVIER 1 | 2122 ANSWERS Lane Hutson's Price Tag Revealed: A Big Contract Could Be on the Table by Summer 2025 What contract would you offer Lane Hutson? | ||
$6.5 M or under per year for 8 years | 947 | 44.6 % |
$7 M per year for 8 years | 673 | 31.7 % |
$7.5 M per year for 8 years | 290 | 13.7 % |
$8M + per year for 8 years | 212 | 10 % |
List of polls |