Something remarkable is happening in Montreal, and it’s sending shockwaves through the hockey world. Once considered a city where NHL stars hesitated to commit, the Canadiens are now witnessing a dramatic shift in attitude—and it’s all unfolding behind the scenes.

The arrival of Kent Hughes as general manager has ignited a cultural revolution, transforming the team’s reputation and sparking a series of decisions that no one saw coming.

Rumors have swirled for months about two of Montreal’s brightest young stars making a choice that defies the usual logic of professional sports.

Now, new revelations have emerged, and the truth behind these contract negotiations is finally coming to light. Why would elite players willingly leave money on the table to stay in Montreal?

What’s changed inside the organization that makes this possible? And, perhaps most intriguing of all, how will these bold moves influence the future of the team, including the next big contract on the horizon?

As insiders and fans alike scramble for answers, one thing is clear: the Canadiens are no longer playing by the old rules. The story behind these deals is deeper than anyone imagined—and the impact could reshape the franchise for years to come.

Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

The arrival of Kent Hughes with the Montreal Canadiens in February 2022 completely changed the hockey culture within the organization.

It is well known that in the past, many free agents and established NHL players avoided the Montreal market at all costs, but things are now truly starting to change.

As reported by DansLesCoulisses, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky accepted less money to sign long-term contracts to stay with the Montreal Canadiens.

We suspected it-it was a rumor circulating for a while-but his agent has now confirmed it.

Cole Caufield’s agent confirms he left money on the table to sign long-term with the Montreal Canadiens

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“Caufield felt it was important for him not to make more money than his captain.

And Slaf thought the same way when signing his eight-year deal in July 2024.

But even by taking less money, it also indicates one thing: both forwards were comfortable signing a multi-year deal in Montreal because they want to play for the Canadiens.” – DLC

This was also discussed by insider Marco D’Amico, on an episode of Shaun Starr’s podcast.

It’s reminiscent of Noah Dobson’s agent, who confirmed earlier this summer that his client also accepted less money in order to play for the Montreal Canadiens.

“Noah Dobson really wanted to play in Montreal.

The proof: he was ready to accept less money to make the trade happen.” – Kevin Dubé

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We can reasonably imagine that things would have been very different under the former management, led by ex-general manager Marc Bergevin.

We can now ask the question: will the decisions made by Slafkovsky and Caufield have an impact on Lane Hutson’s next contract?

The young American defenseman is in an excellent position to cash in after the rookie season he just had, and like the two Canadiens forwards, the deal signed by Noah Dobson could also play a role in future negotiations with Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton.