Overview

• Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman says both sides were nearing an eight-year extension at roughly $9 million AAV before a recent emotional bargaining session prompted a timeout.
• Sources describe the sticking point as contract philosophy, with Montreal proposing Canada-specific mechanisms such as signing-bonus mixes and Retirement Compensation Agreement trusts that Hutson’s camp is questioning.
• Hutson is a 10.2(c) restricted free agent with no arbitration rights and no offer-sheet eligibility, reducing outside leverage even as the market has been reset by Luke Hughes and Jackson LaCombe at $9 million AAV.
• Some coverage warns a prolonged delay could lift the eventual price toward eight figures, and ClutchPoints cites ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reporting Hutson had earlier been open to slightly below Noah Dobson’s $9.5 million AAV before last week’s market moves.
• The 21-year-old Calder Trophy winner logged 66 points as a rookie, and a long-term deal would be central to Montreal’s cap planning as the club has historically avoided cap hits above $10 million.