For several weeks, Devils defenseman Luke Hughes' contract situation has been making headlines in New Jersey.
And of course, the Montreal Canadiens are closely following the case, as there are many similarities with that of Lane Hutson.
What we learned over the weekend is that the young Devils defenseman, already considered a cornerstone of the franchise, is in advanced negotiations with the organization.
Indeed, according to journalist Ryan Novozinsky, the discussions have taken a positive turn, and an agreement is about to be finalized.
In this case, we are likely talking about a long-term contract that would cement his role as a pillar for the next decade.
"Things have progressed positively (relatively speaking) over the past several weeks. If we were to guess, we think Luke winds up with an eight-year deal with a $9 million average annual value" - Ryan Novozinsky
Luke Hughes and the New Jersey Devils Negotiate Long-Term Deal That Inspires Lane Hutson
Rumors point to an eight-season agreement, with an average annual salary of around nine million dollars.
Such a contract would place Hughes among the highest-paid young defensemen in the NHL but, more importantly, it would set a new standard for young blueliners.
Across the league (including Montreal, of course), it redefines the market value of young offensive defensemen.
With the Canadiens, Lane Hutson is closely monitoring this situation, as his agent Sean Coffey could use it as a reference in future discussions with Montreal.
I think the Canadiens will need to anticipate this financial reality very soon.
Personally, I believe Hutson is even better than Hughes, so I wouldn't be surprised to see a salary that high-possibly even higher.
This agreement in New Jersey could well trigger a domino effect influencing an entire generation of young defensemen, including Lane Hutson in Montreal.
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