Lane Hutson Secures His Future with the Canadiens: Million-Dollar Extension
Young defenseman Lane Hutson, a Calder Trophy winner, has reached an agreement to extend his contract with the Montreal Canadiens for eight years and $70.8 million. The official announcement was made on Monday, marking the close of negotiations that extended throughout the summer.
Conversations between Hutson and the Canadiens intensified over the weekend, with the goal of securing his signature before the start of the season. The agreement, which has an average annual value of $8.85 million, includes a sum of $55 million in signing bonuses, according to sources close to the team.
Hutson, 21, is coming off a historic season with the Canadiens. The player recorded six goals and 60 assists, the most assists for a rookie defenseman in NHL history. In addition, he became Montreal’s first rookie of the year since Ken Dryden won the award in 1972.
Hutson joins a select list of rookie defensemen who led scoring, alongside figures like Bobby Orr, Brian Leetch, and Quinn Hughes.
Selected by the Canadiens in the second round of the 2022 draft, Hutson joined the team after two years at Boston University.
Hutson’s new contract aligns with other deals signed by young defenders before the start of the season.
