For once, the buzz in Montreal isn’t about who’s leaving, but who wants to stay.
Reports surfaced this week that the Montreal Canadiens are working on extensions for both executive vice president Jeff Gorton and general manager Kent Hughes, and why wouldn’t they? Together, the duo has rebuilt the roster from a post-Cup-final crumbling into one of the NHL’s most promising young groups.
In the meantime, they’ve made Montreal not just competitive, but increasingly attractive around the league.
It’s not hard to see why ownership wants to lock them up. Gorton and Hughes inherited a roster that was collapsing under the weight of Carey Price’s knee issues and unreasonable expectations following Montreal’s out-of-nowhere run to the Stanley Cup finals in 2021.
In just a few years, they have turned the Canadiens into one of the NHL’s most intriguing young cores, with a farm system that is rated in the top five by several reputable sites. From the savvy drafting that brought in players like Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov, to this summer’s trades that acquired Noah Hobson and Zack Bolduc, the Canadiens now find themselves in a position envied by many around the league.
Montreal Executives Kent Hughes & Jeff Gorton Earn League-Wide Props
And it’s not just internal voices singing their praises. According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the New York Islanders even tried to pry Gorton away earlier this year, a move that underscores just how respected Montreal’s front office has become leaguewide.
The more striking development, though, comes from outside the boardroom. Journalist Renaud Lavoie reported on BPM Sports that NHL player agents are hearing positive feedback from their clients about Montreal. Some have even relayed that sentiment directly to Hughes himself.
That kind of chatter matters. For decades, Montreal has wrestled with the perception of being a tough sell for players — language barriers, high taxes, suffocating pressure from the media spotlight – but the tune seems to be changing. Hughes, himself a former agent, has brought a player-first perspective to the role, and combined with Gorton’s experience, the Canadiens are increasingly viewed as a stable, progressive organization.
Kent Hughes & Jeff Gorton Turned the Canadiens Into a Rising Contender
Of course, reputation only goes as far as the roster can carry it. Fortunately for Montreal, the foundation looks strong.
Nick Suzuki has blossomed into a bona fide first-line center and captain. Cole Caufield remains one of the most electric young wingers in the league, capable of 40 goals when healthy. Juraj Slafkovsky showed real growth last season, giving Montreal a power forward with top-line upside.
On the blue line, Hutson, last year’s Calder Trophy winner, and Dobson headline a wave of young defensemen who project to anchor the back end for years to come, with top prospect David Reinbacher awaiting the call. And in net, prospect Jacob Fowler — fresh off a pair of seasons at Boston College — has drawn early comparisons to the next wave of elite goaltenders.
Bleacher Report’s offseason rankings even suggested Montreal’s young core makes them a playoff lock on the fringe of becoming true contenders. That’s where Gorton and Hughes come back into the frame.
Their trades, drafts, and culture-building have done more than just improve the depth chart, they’ve shifted how people talk about the Canadiens. Agents say their clients now speak highly of the organization. Rivals are trying to poach front-office talent. And ownership is moving to secure the architects of it all for the long haul.
The Canadiens aren’t Cup favorites yet. But the chatter surrounding them — from agents to executives to players themselves — suggests something that hasn’t been said in years: Montreal is becoming a destination again.