Hughes & Gorton A Stark Contrast To Former Habs Management

Stability is the name of the game for the Montreal Canadiens, as the team has announced contract extensions for Jeff Gorton and general manager Kent Hughes, the authors of what can only be described as a methodical, but aggressive rebuild which has already started to yield very encouraging results.

Both Hughes and Gorton signed five-year extensions, with Gorton receiving a promotion to the President of Hockey Operations.

The extensions will run until 2031, which means they will oversee the most difficult aspect of the rebuild, turning the Canadiens into a legitimate Stanley Cup threat. It ensures they will be in place and grow alongside several of their key players, including Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, Noah Dobson, Cole Caufield, Kaiden Guhle, and, of course, Lane Hutson.

ON TOPIC: Canadiens Long-Term Salary Cap Situation Including Hutson

Hutson signed an eight-year contract extension on Monday, leaving some money on the table in the process. At $8.85 million per season, not only is Hutson going to spend his prime years in Montreal, it will allow Hughes and Gorton to add more talent down the road to ensure an upward trajectory.

Finding Nits To Pick

In an era where social media gives a voice to all fans, there’s bound to be a laundry list of complaints by those who do not trust the decision-makers, a situation that’s particularly evident in a hockey-crazed market such as Montreal.

Despite a few legitimate points of contention, few would argue that Hughes and Gorton have done anything but steer the team in the right direction with confidence, while several teams that began their rebuilds before the Canadiens have since faltered.

Not all rebuilds are linear, and the Canadiens are yet to achieve the type of success that would lead to another bronze statue being added to the pantheon of Montreal greatness, however, the Habs have already managed to leapfrog franchises such as the Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings, organizations that have been mired in rebuild frustration for what seems like decades.

The dynamic management duo has instilled a level of confidence among fans that was once expected in Montreal, but has since dissipated in the complex contemporary sports landscape. It’s a throwback to an era when the team overflowed with confidence, talent, and open communication with management, arguably the most crucial factor in building a healthy locker room.

Unlike the previous management group, Hughes and Gorton have not shied away from bold decisions, pairing them with due diligence to maximize each deal’s potential. Rather than avoiding risk—which is perhaps the riskiest approach—the Canadiens are now considered one of the most aggressive yet efficient NHL clubs in solving glaring lineup issues.

There’s still work to be done, but it must be said that the Canadiens have the right people in place to one day perhaps write another Stanley Cup-related chapter in their glorious history, with a modern twist.