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Nick Suzuki is pleased with the contract signed by Lane Hutson

Does Lane Hutson at $8.85 million a year sound like a bargain to you? I guess so.Of course, if the Canadiens ever have a good season, you have to wonder if Kent Hughes will have a chance of winning GM of the Year,and he’s the one we’ll have to sign for the long term one day, as Maxim Lapierre put it.

Seeing the negotiations come out on social networks affected the case, but Kent Hughes managed to get the defenseman at his price. It just complicated things, and no doubt delayed the matter, considering Hughes wanted the contract signed before the start of the season. It’s just a week too late.

[content-ads]Finally, at $8.85M, Hutson earns more per year than Suzuki. That said, if we get out our calculator, we realize that in the first year of Suzuki’s contract and in the first year of Hutson’s contract, the captain has an advantage. What is it? In 2022-2023, Suzuki’s contract ($7.875 million, signed by Marc Bergevin) represented 9.5% of the salary cap. And in 2026-2027, with an estimated cap hit of $104 million, Hutson will represent 8.5% of the cap. Suzuki may earn less than Hutson per year for years to come, but taking into account the cap and the percentage at the time of signing (a technique often used in modern NHL negotiations), the captain is above the American defenseman. Using the same logic, Cole Caufield (9.4% in 2023-2024) is also above Hutson. However, this season, Juraj Slafkovsky is below Hutson: the Slovak is at 7.9%. But in the end, even if he didn’t necessarily have a say in the negotiations, Nick Suzuki is happy to see that Hutson took a discount to stay in town and help the club win.

Kent Hughes, for his part, isn’t ready to say whether his defenseman took a discount or not. In his eyes, the market has been hard to read for the past few months, but hey: Hughes has to run his club and make it work. And clearly, on this one, he succeeded. spacer title=’Overtime’]- The guys are happy for Lane Hutson.

– Well.

– Interesting.

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The vast majority of Lane Hutson’s contract in bonuses | A small no-trade clause

It’s done: Lane Hutson is in Montreal to stay. On this Thanksgiving Day, the American defenseman saw the Habs make official an eight-year contract at $8.85 million per season. The contract will take effect next summer, and clearly, fans will be cheering him on tomorrow. #Toconvince the defenseman to sign at his price, Kent Hughes worked hard. First, he tried to sign him to a deferred-money contract, but the kid wouldn’t go for it. Or his father didn’t? Or his agents didn’t?

But what made the difference was that the Canadiens agreed to give the American the vast majority of the contract ($55M out of $70.8M) in signing bonuses.

As Eric Engels says, his base salary will very often be a million dollars (or a little more) a year. This is increasingly common – and will be limited in the next collective agreement.

[content-ads]Note that in Year 6 of his contract, i.e. when he would have obtained full autonomy, a partial no-trade clause (10 clubs where he can refuse to be traded) comes into play. Eric Engels also reported this. Note that according to Pierre LeBrun, it was really at the end of the week that the file really picked up speed. From Saturday to Sunday, there was progress in negotiations. And that led to the contract.

[spacer title=’en rafale’]- Practice: everyone has arrived ahead of time and the extras are lined up to stay the same.

– Must read.

– Absolutely.

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Lane Hutson signs an eight-year contract for less than $9 million a year

Lane Hutson and the Montreal Canadiens have agreed on the terms of an eight-year contract valued at $8.85 million per campaign. The $70.8M contract will begin in 2026. It’s done.

It always made sense to have Lane Hutson sign under Noah Dobson ($9.5M per year) because he wasn’t exactly close to full autonomy. But under the $9M mark, that’s a nice touch. Once again, even though it was choppy for a bit, Kent Hughes was patient and he got his prize. To have the Calder winner at less than $9M a year for the long term is a great coup, so the kid can concentrate on hockey. content-ads]Behind Carey Price (10.5), Noah Dobson (9.5) and P.K. Subban (9.0), Hutson has just signed the fourth-biggest contract in franchise history.No forwards in the bunch, by the way.Details to follow…

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Zachary Bolduc contract negotiations: “I don’t think it’s started at all”

Let’s take a look at the Canadiens’ salary situation for next season by looking at the guys who are at the end of their contracts within the organization. In 2026-2027, many contracts will be up for renewal. Among the unrestricted free agents, the files of Patrik Laine, Mike Matheson, Kaapo Kahkonen, Alex Belzile, Marc Del Gaizo and Nate Clurman are worth keeping an eye on, butnot at the same level. Matheson and Clurman won’t get as much attention, of course,but many players will also be restricted free agents. Sean Farrell, Joshua Roy, Riley Kidney, Jared Davidson, Luke Tuch, William Trudeau and Gannon Laroque are among them, but Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno, Zachary Bolduc, Arber Xhekaj and Lane Hutson are the names to watch out for in the NHL. There’s a lot of talk about Lane Hutson, but increasingly, Bolduc is reminding us that he, too, could earn himself a nice contract for next season. His start to the season is helping him, anyway

[content-ads]Obviously, it’s still very early to get into the details of a new contract for Bolduc. After all, we’ll have to give him time to see if he’ll be able to maintain a good cruising pace over the long term. But if we could talk about a potential contract this summer, we can still do so once the season begins. Accordingto Renaud Lavoie, it would be very surprising if Pat Brisson started negotiating with Kent Hughes, who has his hands full with a small defenseman at the moment. He spoke about it on BPM Sports this morning, saying he doesn’t think it’s started at all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eepqYeZggI But it will. But why? Becausea guy who can score goals like Bolduc is capable of doing, that pays off in an NHL organization. And the player’s clan knows that. [spacer title=’en rafale’]- Note to interested parties.– Arber Xhekaj is good in his role. [BPM Sports] – Interesting.

– To read.

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Patrik Laine’s wife anxious about the couple’s future in Montreal

Being a hockey player’s wife can’t be easy. After all, you never know when your husband might be traded. You never know if your husband’s club might simply decide not to offer him a new contract. With kids or not, that brings uncertainty to a couple. And right now, that’s the case for Patrik Laine’s wife, Jordan. In response to a question about how she feels on the heels of the final year of the Canadiens’ #92 contract, she replied that she feels anxious all the time.

Honestly, I feel anxious all the time because it’s obviously a major event in my life that’s totally out of my control.

–

Jordan Laine

[content-ads]She asserts, however, that everything in life happens for a reason, and that what must happen will happen. She’s also very proud of Patrik for the mentality he’s adopting right now and for his efforts, but despite everything, she’s at the mercy of what’s going to happen. Patrik Laine has made no secret of the fact that he wants to sign a contract extension to stay with the Canadiens beyond the 2025-2026 season.

We don’t know how far the Habs are willing to negotiate with him(it was in the plans at some point this summer, but we don’t know if it actually happened), considering he’s not off to a great start this season.

In fact, we suspect that the Habs can’t be in a hurry to talk to Laine.The Habs are having trouble finding a role for him right now – as expected – and he’ll have to learn to be more than just a powerplay specialist if he hopes to stay in town. But we don’t know if we really believe that… [spacer title=’en rafale’]- The Blue Jays lost last night.– Does Pat Brisson want to be a GM?[JdeM] – À lire.

– Why not start the ceremony two minutes earlier?

– The Habs will practice at 10:30

m.

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Lane Hutson: “I think his contract talks are affecting him,” says Elliotte Friedman

Lane Hutson has one point in three games so far this season, and he opened his account Saturday night in Chicago with an assist on Kaiden Guhle’s late goal to give the Habs the win. That said, Hutson isn’t off to the greatest start in the world… and there may be a reason for that. after all, there are a thousand and one rumours about his next contract. Everyone’s been talking about it for a few weeks now, because the defenseman hasn’t signed his deal yet… even if he liked the idea of it being settled over the summer. And doesn’t he want to, with all the noise surrounding his contract discussions with the Canadiens, it can become a bit of a distraction on the ice. Elliotte Friedman(32 Thoughts Podcast) thinks it’s having an impact on his performance:

I think it’s affecting Hutson.

–

Elliotte Friedman

For sure, Hutson is thinking about his contract.

[content-ads] Lane Hutson is 21 years old. He’s never been in a situation like this before, he’s about to break the bank, we know that discussions between his clan and the Habs’ have become more emotional… and clearly, that can have an effect on his play on the ice. Because it’s inevitable, in a way: Hutson wants to prove to management that he deserves to earn as much money as possible. And if he starts playing with the idea that he has to be good, that’s when he can start doing or thinking too much on the ice. The Canadiens need to know that, too. Kent Hughes, a former player’s agent, clearly understands the situation, and it makes you wonder if it can change the GM’s plan because he wants to see his team succeed this season. And for that to happen, the Canadiens need Lane Hutson 100% focused. We saw what happened last season, after all… Hutson had a fantastic first year in the NHL, winning the Calder Trophy, and he was a big part of the Habs’ playoff run. That’s the Hutson we all want to see… Spacer title=’Prolongation’] – Boom.

– Three players picked up a point yesterday in the only game presented (Capitals vs Rangers). Caps won 1-0:

(Credit: Screenshot / NHL.com)

– 10 games today in the NHL.

(Credit: Screenshot / Google)
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Kaiden Guhle hit Frank Nazar to avenge Ivan Demidov

After three games played in the 2025-26 season, we’re hoping to see more from some of the Montreal Canadiens’ players. We can’t fault Zachary Bolduc, who’s doing very well, unlike Logan Mailloux. However, there’s always room for improvement within a team, and even though Demidov hasn’t produced much so far (1 point), he’s shown us some new facets to his game. As we know, he threw down the gloves on Saturday night against the Chicago Blackhawks, and also pulled out all the stops to prevent the opposition from capitalizing.

Kaiden Guhle was also involved in the scrum, and has always enjoyed protecting his team-mates. Demidov was targeted against the Blackhawks, and Guhle came to blows with a solid hit on Frank Nazar at center ice. According to the Habs defenseman, he did it to avenge his teammate who was constantly being targeted by the opposition. That’s what we learn in this text from Arpon Basu.

[content-ads]

“If you target one of our young talented players, I’ll do the same. I think they (Blackhawks players) expected that.”

–

Kaiden Guhle

That’s exactly the mentality we want to see in the Montreal Canadiens: a close-knit team that sticks together and protects each other as teammates. The Canadiens is no longer the club that lets itself be intimidated. This was evident in the preseason game against the Ottawa Senators in Quebec City, where the Rocket’s Florian Xhekaj, Luke Tuch and Tyler Thorpe are still with the team. The Habs will certainly be adding some player protection and physical strength in the years to come, and that’s encouraging.Also in Basu’s piece, Jake Evans recently spoke about Demidov, and according to him, it’s not even his talent that impresses him the most. In fact, it’s more the fact that Demidov is an excellent person. His enormous raw talent hasn’t turned him into an unpleasant teammate; rather, the Russian is always looking to learn from everyone. Evans’ comments can be found towards the end of Basu’s article:

“He always wants to learn. He doesn’t care if you’re a lot less talented than him, he always wants to learn from everyone.”

–

Jake Evans

[content-ads]That pretty much sums up the type of person and teammate Demidov is. Not only is he bursting with talent and has all the tools to have a glorious career, but he’s also a hockey fanatic (a bit like Lane Hutson) and is constantly striving to become a better player.

However, if he wants to be more successful, he’s going to have to show more, because in Martin St-Louis’s eyes, he obviously doesn’t deserve much playing time(he’s the Habs’ third least-used player this season).I invite you to read this excellent article by Arpon Basucetexcellent article by Arpon Basu. Overtime] – The Habs aren’t the only ones looking for top-6 reinforcements.

– Would it be Dustin Wolf or another Flames goalie going the other way for an established goalie? Wolf has excellent potential, it would be counterproductive to trade him in my opinion.

– Cowan to make NHL debut on Maple Leafs top line.

– It’s about time.

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Nathan MacKinnon criticized his own supporters

Avalanche fans must have been impatient on Saturday night. During the game against the Dallas Stars, many of them booed their own team… right in the middle of the powerplay. In the end, despite a strong offensive performance, the Avalanche lost 5-4 in the shootout. The team won five powerplays and found the back of the net just once, on the last one, thanks to Mackinnon himself, yet it wasn’t the goal or the loss that caught the eye after the game, but rather the star player’s words. During the media scrum, MacKinnon sent a clear message to his fans:

“I know we got booed. I guess they don’t really know what a good power play looks like. We had an awful lot of chances, but the puck just wouldn’t go in.”

–

Nathan MacKinnon

A direct, straightforward answer, typical of MacKinnon’s temperament. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0jFLxBYr9Y And it’s hard to prove him completely wrong. With players like Cale Makar at quarterback, Martin Necas at the top of the slot and Artturi Lehkonen in front of the net, Colorado’s power play is nothing to worry about. Against Dallas, the execution quickly took hold in the stands [content-ads], but Mackinnon doesn’t seem prepared to let the crowd turn its back on his team after just a few missed chances. His statement had the air of a reminder: the Colorado Avalanche are among the NHL’s offensive elite, and a powerplay, no matter how well executed, doesn’t always translate into a goal. In an organization as ambitious as the Avalanche, every night without a win is seen as a failure. When you have players of the calibre of MacKinnon, Makar or Necas, fans expect a constant spectacle. But that level of excellence also comes with enormous pressure, and on Saturday, that pressure seemed to weigh as heavily on the ice as it did in the stands, so what was supposed to be a simple regular-season game turned into a little arm-wrestling between the Canadiens’ star player and his own crowd. And as is often the case, Mackinnon made his stick talk… before making his outspoken point. [spacer title=’en rafale’]- Already one scored for Toffoli.

– What a save by Lindgren!

– Trey Yesavage speaks up,

– All these teams are still undefeated.

-A nice gesture from the Senators.

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Three goals in two games: Joshua Roy gets his season off to a flying start

Cut from the Canadiens a few days ago, it didn’t take long for Joshua Roy to remind us why his name is still in the conversation in Montreal. The Québécois forward is off to a fine start with the Laval Rocket, scoring twice this afternoon in his team’s opening 5-2 win over the Manitoba Moose. With three goals in two games, Roy seems to have taken his demotion as a personal mission. Withdrawn because the Canadiens wanted to see more from him on the ice, the young forward responded in the best possible way: by filling the back of the net. During the Canadiens’ camp, the coaching staff had been clear. Roy had to offer more without the puck, be consistent in his retreats and demonstrate that he could sustain an NHL pace on a regular basis. Offensively, no one doubted his abilities. Since his arrival in Laval, the message seems to have gotten through, despite his -1 record. Roy is playing with intensity, working in practice and regaining the confidence that made him a dominant player in recent seasons. His three goals since the start of the new campaign are proof of this, and his first powerplay goal today shows that he’s no longer just a peripheral player.

[content-ads] Roy isn’t back with the Canadiens yet, but if he continues at this pace, sooner or later he’ll force the organization’s hand and move up the pecking order for a recall. In addition to Roy, Laurent Dauphin, Sean Farrell and Owen Beck also found the back of the net. Veteran goalkeeper Kaapo Kähkönen made 25 saves in the victory. Honorable mention to Laurent Dauphin for his three points and to Alex Belzile for his two assists in this first victory. The Rocket will play its opening game next Friday at Place Bell, and it will be yet another opportunity for Joshua Roy to demonstrate all his talent and, above all, his progress in front of his own fans. [spacer title=’Overtime’]- He’s only three short.

-A return to action for Sonny Milano after more than a year away.

– This move may mean Cam York could miss the next game.

-The Devils already have an injured player.

-Two minutes that could cost the Canadiens dearly.

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Here’s what the Xhekaj brothers’ lunch looks like after practice

Seeing a pair of brothers on the same NHL team is always fun. Florian Xhekaj isn’t playing for the Montreal Canadiens this season (unlike his brother Arber), but rather for the CH’s club-school. However, fans of the Montreal club had the chance to see them play together and throw down the gloves in the same game during the famous warm-up game against the Ottawa Senators in Quebec City. And fans got their money’s worth, with several fights along the way and bloodied faces. Like it or not, fighting has always been part of the NHL, but it can certainly be a spectacle.

Florian Xhekaj arrived at Habs training camp last year weighing in at just over 190 pounds on a 6’3″ frame, but with the new measurements for the 2025-26 season, we’ve seen little brother Hanson Xhekaj put on a good ten pounds, now weighing in at 205 pounds.

The Xhekaj brothers’ mother (Simona) recently posted a photo of the breakfast her two giant children eat after morning training, and it’s easy to see why Florian has put on weight.

[content-ads]I actually asked ChatGPT to estimate the number of calories according to the photo and according to the artificial intelligence, they would eat over 1100 calories at breakfast with this meal.

Incredible, all the same.We know that the Xhekaj brothers are massive (especially Arber with nearly 240 pounds on his frame), but it’s not because they’re fat, quite the contrary. According to Anthony Martineau a few weeks ago, Arber has greatly reduced his body fat percentage this summer.

It’s clear to see that he’s in great shape physically, with very little body fat. Florian Xhekaj will need to be even more successful this season in Laval, and if his performances are worth it (and if a hole opens up up at the top somehow), he’ll most likely get his chance with the big club this year.

Let’s see how the two Xhekaj brothers do this season, and if fans will get to see them play in the same game in the regular season, or if it’ll have to wait. spacer title=’Overtime’] – A first win for the Laval Rocket this season.

– Luke Tuch’s big brother with the Oilers? Interesting.

–

– Alex Formenton (ECJ 2018) wants to return to the Senators, but Steve Staios has given Formenton’s agent permission to talk to other teams.

– Read on.