The Montreal Canadiens and defenseman Lane Hutson have agreed to an eight-year contract extension worth $70.8 million, carrying an AAV of $8.85 million. $55 million of the deal is to be paid in signing bonuses.

Many were wondering when the Montreal Canadiens would sign Hutson to an extension. While there was no pressure to complete it, the extensions by New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes and Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe, each carrying AAVs of $9 million per season, ramped up the timeline for the Canadiens.

With Hutson being a 10.2(c) restricted free agent like Luke Hughes next offseason, the only leverage the player had was to hold out. As mentioned over the summer on NHLRumors.com, if it were summertime next year and the Canadiens didn’t have a deal in place with Hutso

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