Lane Hutson Signs Million-Dollar Extension with the Canadiens
The talented defenseman Lane Hutson, winner of the Calder Trophy, has reached an agreement to extend his contract with the Montreal Canadiens for eight years and $70.8 million, as announced by the team this Monday.
This agreement comes after lengthy negotiations during the summer between the American defenseman and the Canadiens. Talks intensified over the weekend, with the goal of securing Hutson’s signature so that both he and the team could start the season on the right foot. The contract, which has an average annual value of $8.85 million, includes $55 million in signing bonuses, according to sources close to the matter.
Hutson, 21, is coming off a historic season for the Canadiens. He recorded six goals and 60 assists, the most assists for a rookie defenseman in NHL history. He became Montreal’s first rookie of the year since Ken Dryden won the award in 1972.
Hutson joined a select list of defensemen who led rookies in scoring, following in the footsteps of Bobby Orr, Brian Leetch, and Quinn Hughes.
Selected in the second round of the 2022 draft by the Canadiens, Hutson joined the team after two years at Boston University.
Hutson’s new contract aligns with other deals signed by young defensemen before the season. Anaheim’s Jackson LaCombe signed for eight years and $72 million, and New Jersey’s Luke Hughes agreed to a seven-year contract for $63 million.
