Canadiens Analysis
Canadiens Long-Term Salary Cap Situation Including Hutson
Now that the Montreal Canadiens have signed phenom Lane Hutson to a team-friendly contract extension, it’s time to take a look at how the deal will impact the team’s ability to navigate the choppy waters of a salary-cap world.
Montreal Canadiens Moving Forward
The Canadiens’ salary-cap situation for the 2025-26 season is rather straightforward. With Carey Price’s contract off the board, the team will able to accrue important cap space throughout the season, rather than having to remain inert due to the limitations tied to long-term injured reserve (LTIR) funds.
As it stands, the Canadiens have roughly $5.5 million in cap space, which translates to over $25 million in cap space by the time the NHL Trade Deadline is set to take place on March 8. Of course, much can change between now and March, but it stands to reason general manager Kent Hughes will have the financial manoeuvrability necessary to add some talent at the deadline should the opportunity arise.
However, at the risk of putting the cart ahead of the horse, I’d like to jump ahead a little to take a look at how the Hutson deal will impact any potential trades or signings in the future.
The Canadiens have $76.1 million committed for the 2026-27 season, based on a projected $104 million salary cap.
In other words, they will have just under $28 million in available cap space to sign six or so players.
That may not sound like an impressive figure at first glance, but when you consider that Hutson, Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Kaiden Guhle, and Noah Dobson are all under contract until at least 2030, the team’s long-term outlook becomes so bright that it would not be surprising to hear that the Sunglass Hut is set to return to all the empty mall kiosks it left behind a decade ago.
Ivan Demidov will need a raise, as will a few other players, but the reasonably-priced foundation has already been laid by Hughes and Co. To make matters more interesting, the salary cap will continue to rise in the next few years, including a $113.5 million cap for the 2027-28 season.
With 16 players already locked in for 2026-27, not only is there remarkable consistency among young, core players, but there will also be further opportunities for the Canadiens to leverage their cap flexibility moving forward.
Montreal Canadiens Salary Cap Information Via Puck Pedia.
Will this open up for Adam Engström? ( assuming Matheson is traded during/after season) Believe Engström have huge potential as top 4 D
There are different ways for a player to show he is a team first guy , Lane Hutson showed us one today . He didn’t want the negotiations to drag on and as reported he moved matters along and now he can focus on what he likes doing most , playing the game .
Lane appreciates all that he has , knowing at the same time that while taking a little less , it would be a benefit to his teammates and to management . Happy thanksgiving !
That’s great news Marc, I have a sunglass hut coupon around here somewhere. Futures so bright…
Looking forward, Laine won’t command 8.7 next season so savings coming there, maybe all 8.7? Bolduc will eat up some of those dollars as his deal expires the end of this season. Depending on the numbers he puts up, he will likely get a big contract as a top 6 winger. Dach I think is up the end of the season, becoming a UFA. If he signs, I don’t expect a huge increase on his 3.425 deal as there is still significant uncertainty about his ability to be a 2C or stay healthy.
Gallagher and Anderson are signed through next season at a combined 11.5 so that is a flexible situation. Could Beck and Xhekaj be lower cap hit replacement player or players?
Guys like Newhook and Carrier likely won’t move the needle much when their deals are done after next season. Matheson has a decision to make. I think he’d stay at current money. He will have earned north of 40m in his career so the next deal may be another Hughes Special. Hage, Reinbacher and Engstrom will all be very affordable at the early stage of their careers.
We would have the resources to pay a superstar free agent even after Demidov and Bolduc sign from my back of the napkin number crunch. We are in a great place!
The Maple Laughs had their core 4. We’re going to have like a core 10! 😁👌