The Montreal Canadiens have recently extended the contracts of general manager Kent Hughes and hockey operations executive Jeff Gorton for multiple years, as announced by the NHL team on Tuesday. Gorton will transition into the role of president of hockey operations. This extension comes as both Hughes and Gorton were in the final year of their existing contracts.
Under the leadership of Hughes and Gorton, Montreal has experienced a notable resurgence, surpassing expectations by making a return to the playoffs last season after a three-year absence. The team’s success has been attributed to a talented young core, featuring players like captain Nick Suzuki, rookie standout Ivan Demidov, and defenseman Lane Hutson, who was named rookie of the year and recently signed an eight-year, $70.8 million contract extension.
Prior to his tenure with the Canadiens, Gorton served as the general manager of the New York Rangers from 2015 until May 2021. He later joined Montreal as the executive vice-president of hockey operations. Hughes, a Montreal native, took on the role of GM in January 2022 and wasted no time in making impactful decisions, including the hiring of a new head coach.
The Canadiens kicked off the 2025-26 season with a 2-1-0 record and were set to play their home opener against Seattle on Tuesday night.
