The Montreal Canadiens kicked off a new season full of excitement and expectations last night in Toronto.
A 5-2 loss to the Maple Leafs won't look great in the box score, but it wasn't a poor performance overall, and the potential for this team remains high.
Nobody is worried about the Canadiens after one game; however, there is an off-ice situation that's starting to become a little worrisome in Montreal.
Young star defenseman Lane Hutson is a pending RFA at season's end, and with all of the massive contracts being handed out around the NHL, everyone is wondering when his deal will come.
While the Canadiens obviously want to extend Hutson, according to TSN hockey insider Darren Dreger, negotiations have been messy, with the family very much involved in the process. Here was the update he had to provide during OverDrive on Wednesday.
"In the meantime they've got that Lane Hutson contract extension, which, unlike Eichel and Connor and Connor McDavid, I wouldn't expect that this one is going to get done anytime soon. It's a bit of a mess there," Dreger said.
"I honestly think it's been reported on well and fairly. There's a lot of emotion in that negotiation; the family is heavily involved. And I think that wisely, both sides have said, 'Let's just put it on hold for now.' But it's a bit of a spicy meatball now as far as the overall look of this thing, so I think they needed to calm down," Dreger added.
"I wouldn't expect it to get done anytime soon."@DarrenDreger gives his perspective on Lane Hutson's potential next contract with the Canadiens.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/muH2XMpqOi
— OverDrive (@OverDrive1050) October 8, 2025
As mentioned, the 21-year-old just began the third and final season of the three-year, $2.85 million entry-level contract he signed with the Habs in 2024.
Hutson had a rough opening night
With contract talks apparently reaching a bit of a boiling point, Lane Hutson was hoping to put it all aside with the regular season finally here.
Unfortunately, it didn't go so well during the 5-2 loss in Toronto on Wednesday, as Hutson went pointless and was a -2 rating in his 21:03 of ice time.
He was also front and center on Morgan Rielly's game-winning goal in the third period, losing his stick and falling out of position on the play.
It wasn't how Lane Hutson would've drawn up his season opener, but the good thing is he and the Canadiens won't have time to dwell on it as they'll be right back in action tonight in Detroit against the Red Wings.