Being honest and straightforward with people is a great way to run any business.

That’s how Jeff Gorton, as executive vice-president of hockey operations, and general manager Kent Hughes have run the Canadiens since starting a rebuilding process almost four years ago.

The culture they have helped create by being honest and straightforward while making smart personnel decisions helped the Canadiens make the playoffs for the first time in four years last season. It also played a role in Lane Hutson agreeing to an eight-year, US$70.8-million contract extension on Monday with an annual salary-cap hit of US$8.85 million starting next season.

Hughes was able to turn down the temperature on what had become emotional contract talks by sitting down one-on-one with Hutson when the Canadiens wer

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