The Montreal Canadiens could be pushing to sign star defenceman Lane Hutson ASAP, following the mega contract extensions signed by Luke Hughes and Jackson LaCombe earlier this week.
The New Jersey Devils signed Luke Hughes to a seven-year $63 million deal, while the Anaheim Ducks inked Jackson LaCombe to a max-term eight-year deal worth $72 million.
The deals were rightfully signed by each club, serve as comparables for the Canadiens to ink their young, up-and-coming franchise blueliner.
But as Marco D’Amico or RG Media noted in an October 3 post, Hutson doesn’t have the leverage that Hughes and LaCombe had.
In particular, Hughes used the pressure exerted by his brother Quinn, captain of the Vancouver Canucks, to twist Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald’s arm to sign him. Quinn Hughes stated that he would like to play with his brothers one day. As such, an unsigned Luke Hughes could jump ship and demand a trade to Vancouver.
As for LaCombe, he’s 24 and inching toward UFA status. While he was still a couple of years away, LaCombe was also an offer sheet target. That situation could have backed the Ducks into a corner. So, they proactively moved to sign their budding top-pairing blueliner.
Those two situations do not apply to Hutson. He’s not offer-sheet eligible, and he’s still years away from UFA status. Still, the Canadiens would do well to sign Hutson now to a long-term deal before it’s too late. Another strong season, potentially earning him Norris Trophy votes, could shoot the price tag on Hutson past the $9 million set by Hughes and LaCombe.
Canadiens could get creative to keep Hutson in the fold
D’Amico went into a lengthy and detailed description of how the Canadiens could use bonus structures and retirement accounts to keep Hutson in Montreal. It’s certainly worth reading if you’re into financials and the business side of sports.
For now, the gist is that the Canadiens could set up trusts and retirement accounts to freeze some of his money now, while taking advantage of the tax agreements between the US and Canada. Hutson is an American citizen and could take full advantage of such provisions.
Once the math is all settled, Hutson could actually keep more of his money, thereby paying him more than Hughes or LaCombe after taxes have been deducted. That sort of situation has allowed Canadian teams to compete with no-tax states like Florida, Texas, and Tennessee, making it attractive for players to remain there.
Ultimately, the Canadiens could be pushing hard to ink Hutson now. With Hughes and LaCombe inked, there’s a psychological push on both ends to get something done. It could be overwhelming for a 22-year-old to make a financial decision that could set him up for life. But then again, who would pass up the opportunity to be set for life at such a young age?
The Canadiens are betting on Hutson blossoming into their next great defenceman, while Hutson is betting on himself to prove he’s worth every penny.