Montreal Canadiens’ Top Contracts for the 2026‑27 Season

General manager Kent Hughes has remained quiet on the free‑agent market this summer, while forward Kirby Dach’s arbitration hearing is set for July 30. Dach is among the few restricted‑free‑agents on the roster still awaiting a contract for the upcoming season, alongside Zachary Bolduc and Arber Xhekaj.

Although this compilation of the Canadiens’ top contracts for the 2026‑27 season (excluding entry‑level deals) remains subject to change, the current logical assessment suggests that fans are unlikely to be impressed by the final terms of these agreements, given the players still have much to prove.

In contrast, the five players highlighted below have already demonstrated their value to the organization, as the Canadiens moved quickly to secure their contracts and negotiate extensions early.

Alexandre Texier ($2.5 million cap hit)

Alexandre Texier, who signed a one‑year, $1 million contract in November after his previous deal with the St. Louis Blues was terminated, quickly extended his term by two additional seasons less than two months later. At the time of his extension, he had posted a strong run, recording three points in back‑to‑back games and eight points over four contests, culminating in a 20‑point finish over 43 games with Montreal. Some critics suggested that General Manager Kent Hughes had acted prematurely, but this view overlooks the circumstances.

The two‑year, $2.5 million commitment may appear modest, yet it proves to be an excellent value. Had Hughes anticipated Texier maintaining a two‑point‑per‑game rate, he would have secured a longer deal. In reality, Texier’s production was aided by injuries to teammates, which granted him increased ice time alongside stars such as Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield — circumstances that even Hughes recognized.

Although the situation was temporary, Texier has demonstrated the ability to contribute across the lineup and reach the 30‑point mark in a full season, making the contract unequivocally favorable.

Juraj Slafkovsky ($7.6 million)

Re‑signing Juraj Slafkovsky on July 1, 2024, represented a calculated risk for Hughes. Although the 2022 first‑overall selection showed promise, his rookie season fell short of expectations, and while his 20‑goal, 50‑point campaign in 2023‑24 marked clear improvement, the subsequent 51‑point performance after signing the extension failed to cement his status as a reliable top‑line scorer.

Nevertheless, Slafkovsky silenced skeptics during the first year of his contract, posting a career‑high 30 goals and 73 points, solidifying his role as a premier line player, even when paired with teammates other than Suzuki and Caufield.

Given projected salary inflation, a $7.6 million cap hit appears modest if Slafkovsky sustains near‑50‑point output. Should he maintain or exceed his current production, the deal will represent exceptional value. At just 22 years old, further growth is anticipated.

Cole Caufield ($7.85 million)

It’s reasonable to question placing Cole Caufield on the same tier as Nathan MacKinnon, whose $12.604 million cap hit corresponds to 50 goals — the only other player to reach that mark this season and the first Montreal Canadien since Stéphane Richer in 1990 to do so.

Caufield has compiled 169 goals in 368 games, averaging close to 38 goals per 82‑game season — comparable to wingers such as Kyle Connor, Martin Necas, and Pavel Dorofeyev. What sets him apart is his recent point‑per‑game production, his relative youth, and his cost‑effectiveness.

Lane Hutson ($8.85 million)

While the 2025 Calder Memorial Trophy alone does not justify Hutson’s $8.85 million cap hit, his impressive collection of honors from that season — highlighted by tying Hall of Famer Larry Robinson’s single‑season assist record for a Canadiens defenseman with 66 — better explains the value of his contract.

Having posted strong point totals as a rookie and adding 78 points in his sophomore year, Hutson delivered outstanding value during his entry‑level contract. Signed in October, his new deal begins this season and, based on his early performance, places him among the league’s elite.

Comparatively, Quinn Hughes, whose contract will conclude next season with a $7.85 million cap hit — $1 million less than Hutson’s despite being five years older — recorded 11 goals and 97 points in 129 games during his entry‑level tenure. In contrast, Hutson amassed 18 goals and 146 points in 166 games, underscoring his superior productivity.

Given the Canadiens’ robust salary‑cap positioning, a culture appears to exist where players voluntarily accept lower compensation, particularly in a high‑tax market. This mindset likely originated when captain Nick Suzuki signed an eight‑year, $63 million contract in October 2021, with the deal kicking in for the 2022‑23 season.

Credit is due to Marc Bergevin, who was still GM at the time (before his subsequent dismissal). This culture has persisted into Hughes’ era, with the Canadiens’ core players securing long‑term contracts that stay under $10 million in average annual value. For context, Bergevin also extended goaltender Carey Price to an eight‑year, $10.5 million cap hit in 2017 — a deal that recently expired. Consequently, the Canadiens occupy a distinctive position in NHL salary structure, especially given their recent and projected ongoing success.

It is surprising that Suzuki’s contract was initially labeled one of the league’s worst heading into the 2022‑23 season. Whether due to the analytical model or the author, the assessment overlooked the fact that Suzuki, coming off a career‑high 61‑point season with a bottom‑ranked team, was emerging as a 22‑year‑old first‑line centre.

Now established as the undisputed top centre, Suzuki has raised his point totals each season, culminating in a 100‑point campaign in 2025‑26 — the first Montreal player to reach that mark since Mats Naslund in 1985‑86 — and also earned the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league’s premier defensive forward. The earlier negative appraisal has since aged poorly, and the contract is now regarded as one of the NHL’s finest and the best on the Canadiens.

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