Montreal Canadiens' Lane Hutson (48) and Juraj Slafkovsky (20) work for the puck as Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) and Jake McCabe (22) look on during second period hockey action in Toronto this past Wednesday.

The Montreal Canadiens have rewarded star defenceman Lane Hutson, last season’s NHL rookie of the year, with a new US$70.8-million, eight-year contract.

The deal, which runs from 2026-27 to 2033-34, will pay the 21-year-old Hutson an average annual salary of US$8.85-million. The Michigan-born blueliner is earning US$950,000 this season.

Montreal Canadiens head into season on wave of optimism

Hutson scored six goals and added 60 assists in 82 games with the Habs as a rookie last season. He led Montreal in assists and topped all NHL rookies in points, assists,

See Full Page