**Title: Canadiens GM Negotiates Lane Hutson's Contract Amid Salary Trends**

As the Montreal Canadiens' general manager Kent Hughes negotiates a new contract for defenseman Lane Hutson, a significant trend in the NHL salary cap landscape is worth noting. Historically, no team with a player earning more than $10 million annually has won the Stanley Cup. This statistic raises questions about the value of high salaries in building a championship team.

Last season, the Florida Panthers captured their second consecutive Stanley Cup with two players, captain Aleksander Barkov and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, each carrying a $10 million salary-cap hit. Currently, 16 players in the NHL have a salary-cap hit exceeding $10.5 million. Among them are notable names like Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers, who tops the list at $14 million, followed by Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs at $13.25 million, and Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche at $12.6 million.

In Canadiens history, the only player to exceed a $10 million salary-cap hit was goalie Carey Price. Hughes traded the final year of Price's eight-year, $84 million contract to the San Jose Sharks on September 5. Price remains on long-term injured reserve due to a knee injury and is expected to retire soon. Currently, the highest-paid player on the Canadiens is new defenseman Noah Dobson, who has a $9.5 million salary-cap hit on his eight-year, $76 million contract.

The NHL salary cap is projected to rise significantly, increasing from $88 million in 2024-25 to $95 million, and further to $104 million in 2026-27, reaching $113.5 million by 2027-28. This growth may eventually lead to a team with a player earning over $10 million winning the Stanley Cup, but historical trends suggest that investing heavily in a few top players may not be the best strategy for success.

For instance, Connor McDavid recently agreed to a two-year, $25 million contract extension that maintains his current $12.5 million salary, making him one of the most underpaid superstars in North American sports. Comparatively, Shohei Ohtani leads Major League Baseball with an average annual salary of $70 million, while Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and NBA star Steph Curry follow with $60 million and $59.6 million, respectively.

Negotiations between Hughes and Hutson's agents from Quartexx Management have faced challenges, particularly with Hutson's father, Rob, involved in the discussions. The Canadiens are not in a rush to finalize Hutson's contract, as he is in the last season of his entry-level deal, which has a $950,000 salary-cap hit. Hutson, who won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie last season, will become a restricted free agent at the end of the season but cannot sign an offer sheet yet.

Hughes likely aims to maintain the team's salary structure and avoid signing Hutson for more than Dobson's $9.5 million. He successfully negotiated contracts for Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky at slightly less than the $7.875 million earned by captain Nick Suzuki. Given Hughes's background as a player agent, it is expected that a resolution will be reached soon.

The Canadiens are currently the youngest team in the NHL, with an average age of 25.8 years. They have 12 players on their roster who were first-round picks in the NHL Draft, including Hutson, who would have been a first-round selection if the draft were redone. As the team enters its fourth year of rebuilding, there is increased pressure to perform after making the playoffs last season.

Defenseman Kaiden Guhle expressed confidence in the team's ability to handle pressure, stating, "I think every guy in this room likes the pressure and I think it brings the best out of everyone in this room." The Canadiens finished last season strong, with a 7-1-2 record in their final ten games, securing the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Guhle noted that the team has more belief this year and is optimistic about their potential to succeed in the league.