The late spring sun glinted off Lane Hutson’s visor as he lined up his shot on the lush fairways of Laval-sur-le-Lac, but the real game wasn’t happening on the golf course.

Montreal’s rising star defenseman, fresh off a Rookie of the Year campaign and a playoff run that sent shockwaves through Bell Centre, found himself facing a far tougher opponent: uncertainty.

Since July, fans and insiders alike have waited for the Canadiens to ink a new deal with Hutson—a move everyone assumed would be a formality.

Yet as Hutson faced the cameras, there was no handshake, no signature, and no announcement. The silence is deafening, and speculation is swirling: what’s holding up the contract? Is there more to the story than meets the eye?

Rumors have begun to seep into the conversation, from locker room whispers to family statements that have sparked international intrigue.

With the Canadiens’ future hanging in the balance, and Hutson’s own ambitions quietly simmering, the stakes have never been higher.

But beneath the surface of negotiations and headlines, a deeper question remains—one that could reshape the team’s destiny, and perhaps even the player’s own legacy. What’s really going on behind closed doors?

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

Since last July 1, Lane Hutson and the Montreal Canadiens can, under the collective agreement, agree on the terms of a new contract.

Many thought this matter would be settled quickly, but when he appeared in front of the cameras at the golf tournament, nothing had yet been signed.

Without hesitation, the player who won Rookie of the Year last season stated that he would have liked to start the season without this hassle.

Lane Hutson is disappointed not to have a new contract in hand with the Montreal Canadiens: he wants to stay, and he would have liked it to be done this summer

He is, however, confident that his agent and Kent Hughes will be able to find common ground, even if it has to be during the season.

Would you have liked your contract to be settled this summer, and are you disappointed that it’s not done?

“Yes, but I still have a job to do. I’m open to continuing negotiations during the season. I’ll leave that to my agent.” – Hutson

Let’s be honest, Hutson is part of the Canadiens’ future, and the club will have no choice but to sign him sooner rather than later.

This signing will also put the organization’s financial plan on the table for the coming years, since big names like Ivan Demidov and David Reinbacher, to name just them, will also need to extend their deals.

Not to mention the possibility of acquiring another big name for the club, who would also come at a high cost.

Hutson’s contract will set the stage for what can be done.

No, Lane Hutson will not play for Canada

In recent weeks, Hutson has made headlines, but not always for the right reasons.

Seeing that his son had not been invited to the U.S. orientation camp ahead of the next Olympic Games, Rob Hutson made a rather surprising statement.

He actually suggested that Lane might, in the future, play for Team Canada.

Asked about the subject at the Laval-sur-le-Lac golf club, the young defenseman was clear: if he plays international hockey, it will be with the United States.