Roughly 24 hours after the announcement of the very team-friendly contract extension for Lane Hutson, Geoff Molson decided he had some work to do in the hockey operations department. Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes have each been rewarded for the work they’ve done in rebuilding the Montreal Canadiens with five-year contract extensions. Gorton will also become the President of Hockey Operations.
With solid drafting, and some very shrewd contract negotiations, the pair of executives have set the Habs on a path towards success. They remain the youngest team by average age in the NHL this season, and yet stand a relatively decent chance of being in the playoffs. The core of the team is locked up through 2030 and beyond, so they’ve earned the confidence of ownership in their ability to make something special happen during these extensions.
Gorton was hired back in November of 2021 to serve as Executive Vice-President of Hockey Operations, and Hughes followed not long after in January of 2022, being brought in as a rookie General Manager. A few years of rebuilding later, they managed to ice a roster that made the playoffs in 2024-25, and now look to become perennial playoff contenders.
Now, the pair will get to enjoy the team’s home opener tonight with solid job security, and likely a nice reception from the fans in appreciation of their work.
