The Montreal Canadiens have had a busy offseason, with exciting signings and high hopes for the future—but there’s one glaring issue that’s casting a shadow over all the optimism.

As the days tick down toward training camp, one of the team’s brightest young stars remains unsigned, and the silence surrounding his contract situation is starting to make fans uneasy.

Lane Hutson, the electrifying defenseman who dazzled last season and was expected to be a cornerstone for years to come, is suddenly at the center of a contract drama that few saw coming.

Insiders are whispering that negotiations have hit unexpected complications, and the latest updates suggest this is becoming a bigger challenge than anyone anticipated.

With Hutson’s agent reportedly holding firm on high expectations, and respected voices in the hockey world hinting at a drawn-out process, the stakes are rising fast.

Will the Canadiens be able to lock down their young phenom before the season begins, or could this situation spiral into a major distraction?

The answers aren’t clear yet—but what’s unfolding behind closed doors could have huge implications for Montreal’s future.

Read on to find out what’s really happening with Lane Hutson’s contract, and why fans should be paying close attention.

Apr 27, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (48) considers his options with the puck against the Washington Capitals during the third period in game four of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

One of the only disappointments of the Montreal Canadiens’ 2025 offseason so far is undoubtedly the fact that Lane Hutson still hasn’t been signed.

Unlike Juraj Slafkovsky and several others, Hutson was not signed on July 1st, the moment he became eligible for a massive contract extension, and even as of today (August 11), absolutely nothing is happening on that front.

In the most recent episode of his podcast, insider Elliotte Friedman provided a rather worrying update.

It will be more difficult than expected for the Montreal Canadiens to sign young Lane Hutson

Careful.

I still believe Lane Hutson will be in Montreal long-term, I’m convinced he loves playing here, but I still don’t like hearing that this will be a more complicated situation than expected.

His agent seems to have very high expectations for Hutson.

Elliotte Friedman: “Canadiens fans are wondering about Lane Hutson [extension]; the market is getting reset; I don’t see problems getting these guys signed but I do see the sweet spot.. being a challenge”

No, it’s not ideal to hear an insider like Friedman say that it will be a challenge to reach an agreement with a young player like Lane Hutson..

And based on Friedman’s other comments, unfortunately, we shouldn’t expect an imminent signing for the defenseman wearing number 48.

That’s concerning, because it could become a real distraction this season and (longer term) because I’d hate the idea of starting next summer without Lane Hutson being signed.

In short, it’s a situation we’ll continue to monitor for you, but the latest developments are not what we were hoping for.

Last season, the 21-year-old defenseman tallied 66 points in 82 regular-season games, along with 5 points in 5 NHL playoff games.

He is about to enter the final year of his entry-level contract.