The Montreal Canadiens have yet to sign star defenseman Lane Hutson to a contract extension, and it appears it isn’t close.
Hutson was eligible to sign an extension on July 1, and since then, young defenseman Luke Hughes and Jackson LaCombe signed seven and eight-year deals, respectively, worth $9 million per season.
After those deals got done, many expected Hutson to sign an extension with the Canadiens. However, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman says the negotiation has gotten emotional, and they need a timeout.
“I think this negotiation has gotten very emotional, and I think everybody needs a timeout,” Friedman said on 32 Thoughts.
It’s a troubling update as Hutson and the Canadiens aren’t close to an extension, and now could table talks for the time being.
After LaCombe and Hughes’ deals got done, many expected Hutson’s deal to be very similar to those. But, it appears that isn’t the case as the negotiations have gotten hostile.
Hutson is entering the final year of his three-year, $2.85 million entry-level deal.
Hutson Letting His Agent Handle Extension Talks
Although Hutson could sign an extension any day now, the star defenseman says he isn’t focusing on that.
Instead, Hutson says he’s letting his agent handle all the extension talks as he’s just focused on playing.
“I try to stay pretty hands off,” Hutson said Monday. “Of course I want to be here, who wouldn’t? So it’s all about just working out some kinks. My agents have a job to do, and so does management here.”
Although Hutson is a star offensive player, he has struggled defensively at times. But, he said, he has been working on that and doesn’t think he’s a finished product.
“I don’t think there’s necessarily a bar. You just want to keep going and keep showing that there’s much more for myself to learn and do. I feel like I’m far from a finished product as a player, so I’m excited to develop even more and help the guys any way I can,” Hutson said.
“I think it’s just going to be little details in my game, execution, finding a way to do it every night. You want to be able to do it for 82 (games) plus playoffs, and it’s not always going to be the case,” Hutson added. “So when it’s an off night and it’s a B-game, you have to have a really good B-game. So maybe still learning that stuff and having fun along the way.”
Hutson has recorded 6 goals and 60 assists for 66 points in 82 games in his first full NHL season.
Canadiens GM Not Worried Hutson Hasn’t Signed Yet
Although Hutson has yet to sign an extension, Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes isn’t worried about it.
Hughes said every negotiation is different, so he isn’t concerned that a deal hasn’t been done yet.
“No, I’m not worried,” Hughes said to TVA Sports. “For all the contracts we’ve negotiated since we arrived here, the negotiations have been smooth. Sometimes it’s very quick, sometimes it takes longer, but we shouldn’t worry.”