Shocking Projection Emerges for Lane Hutson's Next Contract With the Canadiens

While he'll take time to celebrate his season and the Calder with his family, serious contract discussions are expected soon between his agent Sean Coffey and Canadiens GM Kent Hughes.

With the NHL's salary cap projected to rise from $88 million to $104 million over the next two seasons, Hutson is in a good position to ask for a big contract.

Comparisons with past Calder-winning defensemen give us useful insight into what Montreal might offer.

When Quinn Hughes signed a six-year, $47.1 million deal in 2021, his cap hit was just 9.6% of Vancouver's cap. If the Canadiens used that same percentage on a $104 million cap, Hutson could earn around $10 million per year.

Moritz Seider, the last defenseman before Hutson to win the Calder, also signed for 9.6% of the cap. While their styles differ, Seider's seven-year, $59.85 million extension with Detroit could also be a great comparable.

Then, Cale Makar's $54 million deal (11% of the cap at the time) and Adam Fox's $66.5 million contract (11.5%) both show how a major individual award like the Calder or the Norris can help players in the negotiations. Hutson could be looking at a deal north of $11 million annually if he continues on this trajectory.

The Habs have been cautious with salary structure during their rebuild. Their top three earners-Suzuki, Caufield, and Slafkovsky-are all signed below $8 million per year. Matching or exceeding those contracts for a sophomore defenseman would be a bold move.

Still, given the cap inflation and Hutson's early success, Hughes may need to revise that internal cap ceiling.

One thing is clear: Lane Hutson's second contract could be historic. In RDS's projection, they believe he could seek a whopping $12 million annually.