The Montreal Canadiens have announced that general manager Kent Hughes and hockey operations executive Jeff Gorton have agreed to multi-year contract extensions. Gorton will now take on the role of president of hockey operations while Hughes and Gorton were previously in the final year of their contracts.
Under their leadership, the Canadiens have experienced a remarkable revival, surpassing expectations to make a return to the playoffs last season after a three-year absence. The team’s success can be attributed to a talented young core, which includes captain Nick Suzuki, up-and-coming rookie Ivan Demidov, and defenseman Lane Hutson, who was named last season’s rookie of the year and recently signed an eight-year, $70.8 million contract extension.
Gorton, who served as the general manager of the New York Rangers from 2015 to May 2021, joined the Canadiens as executive vice-president of hockey operations in the same year. Hughes, a native of Montreal, was appointed as GM in January 2022 and wasted no time in making strategic hires, including a new head coach.
As the Canadiens kicked off the 2025-26 season with a 2-1-0 record, they prepared to face off against Seattle in their home opener on Tuesday night.