Lane Hutson is about to enter the final year of his entry-level contract, and although technically, while there is no pressing extension, the Montreal Canadiens should take action now. After winning the Calder Trophy in an impressive rookie season, Hutson quickly consolidated himself as one of the smartest young defensive players in the NHL. For teams looking to consolidate their core for a long time, locking him now can save millions of Canadians in the future and make sure their blue line remains the best in the league in the coming years.
Hutson’s value will only rise
Elite costs, young defenders are rising, and recent contracts prove that. This summer alone, the Edmonton Oilers signed Evan Bouchard, worth $10.5 million a year. Ivan Provorov earns $8.5 million a year with Columbus Blue Jackets, while K’Andre Miller signs $7.5 million a year with the Carolina Hurricanes. These are big numbers for high-end blueline agents and they set the tone for what is coming.
If Canadians decide to wait, the market will continue to climb until the Hutson deal expires. Dallas star defender Thomas Harley is about to be postponed, and given his trajectory, his contract could be another market contract. If Harley signs big, it will push prices for players like Hutson.
Now, Canadians have a rare opportunity. They can decide on the market, not react to it. If they sign Hutson before other young defenders sign their huge deal, they can lock him in numbers that look like bargains for a few years.
There is no doubt that Hutson’s value will only rise. His offensive rise, liquidity and creativity have made him the most active defender in the NHL. Add to the fact that he is only 21 years old and it’s easy to see how more seasons can push his contract to the stratosphere.
Hutson is still under team control
Hutson’s trade will end in a restricted free agent (RFA), meaning the Canadians have control. The team can easily play the waiting game and see how his sophomore season unfolds before making a decision.
He has played a lot of time in his rookie season and has been playing in a way that few defenders can. With Noah Dobson coming (from New York Islanders) and a more stable defensive environment, Hutson’s production may move forward again, especially if he gets more power to play.
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If that happens, Montreal will negotiate from a weaker position, deal with a player from a back-to-back elite season and demand that he be placed at the highest level of defensive player salaries. By contrast, the sample size signed by him is still small now, and management can provide more control. However, this utilization can only last until the player’s value exceeds the value you can reasonably object to. If Hutson’s second season is as good or better than his first season, Montreal has no choice but to pay the highest amount of money.
Why does it happen soon
There are also reasons to believe that extensions may occur faster than later. Canadians are at a good upper limit and have a clear understanding of their core advancement. They have made long-term commitments to players like Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slavkovsky and Kohl Kafield, and Hutson is the kind of talent they are going to build.
Mike Matheson may slow down a factor. With Matheson approaching its final year of trading, Canadians may want to know if they are part of their long-term plan before locking in another major contract to the Blue Line. Matheson has always been a steady presence in the young defense, but at 31, his next trade may be very different from Hutson’s deal.
However, there was no haste. This is not the case with Connor McDavid, where the superstars are closing in an imminent deal with unlimited free agents. Hutson’s RFA status purchased Montreal time. But time does not mean doing nothing. Early deals may send a strong message to the rest of the locker room: if you perform, the team will reward you quickly and decisively. This culture may be valuable for staying young and improving the motivation and solidarity of the lineup.
Canadians are in an enviable position. They are one of the most exciting young defensive players in the NHL, a season that won the championship trophy, they have control over his rights in the next few years, and they have the cap space to make a smart, forward-looking move. The waiting is tempting. Safety. However, the risk of waiting is obvious: the price of elite defenders is rising rapidly, while Hutson’s value can climb with almost every pass game. Signing him now allows Canadians to set up markets rather than chasing them later.
