Brossard was supposed to be quiet on Thanksgiving Monday, but something completely unexpected has turned the city’s hockey world upside down. Fans and reporters alike found themselves scrambling as the Montreal Canadiens called a last-minute press conference—no one saw this coming, and the buzz is growing by the minute.

General manager Kent Hughes took the stage, flanked by flashes of cameras and whispers of speculation, ready to address an issue that has kept everyone on edge.

The atmosphere was tense, with every word from Hughes weighed for hidden meaning. Rumors about contract negotiations, future plans, and the fate of the team have been swirling for weeks, but today’s announcement is set to answer some questions—and raise even more.

The spotlight is firmly on Lane Hutson, the young defenseman who has become the center of attention in Montreal, but what exactly did Hughes reveal about the team’s intentions and Hutson’s future?

As the press conference unfolded, Hughes spoke candidly about the challenges and secrets behind closed doors, dropping hints that something bigger may be at play. Why did the Canadiens act so quickly? What does this mean for the team’s ambitions? The answers are more surprising than anyone expected. Read on for the full story.

Photo of Kent Hughes

Photo credit: X/Canadiens

We have live action from Brossard for the Montreal Canadiens.

This was not scheduled at all, but the Habs have indeed called a last-minute press conference with general manager Kent Hughes.

It’s happening right here:

Things are heating up in Brossard on what was a quiet Thanksgiving Monday.

Kent Hughes talks about Lane Hutson’s signing

Let’s recall today’s amazing announcement of Lane Hutson’s 8-Year contract extension.

On that topic, in the above press conference, general manager Kent Hughes addressed the media and confirmed that the goal has always been to sign Lane long-term in Montreal.

“It’s hard to predict how negotiations will end up going. Sometimes you start with short-term but it ends up being long-term… So I find when things go out into the public, it becomes harder because there’s so much information that goes out that is false, and it affects the negotiations sometimes.”

– Kent Hughes

He also confirmed that the goal had always been to sign Lane Hutson before the start of the season-or almost.

It should be recalled that this is an 8-year contract extension for Lane Hutson with the Montreal Canadiens (with an annual value of 8.85 million dollars per year).

Kent Hughes:

“We wanted to resolve this matter (Hutson) as quickly as possible so that it wouldn’t become a distraction for him. The goal was to sign him long-term before the season. We are three games behind!”

He also added this:

Habs GM Kent Hughes said he had a conversation with Lane Hutson this weekend where Hutson voiced how committed he is to the Canadiens:

“I kinda cut him off and said ‘Lane, there wouldn’t be an 8-year deal if we didn’t believe in who you are at your core’..”

More details to come.