Lane Hutson’s looming Montreal extension sits at the center of an evolving RFA marketplace. Hutson, coming off an entry-level deal, has five years of restricted free agency left and no arbitration rights, which shifts leverage away from the heavy UFA-style price tag. Industry chatter pins a potential long-term deal in the eight-year range with a cap hit around 8.8 to 9.5 million, roughly 9% of the cap, aligning with peers who signed as elite RFAs. Dobson’s UFA-edge comparison is cautioned; the Hutson framework aims to secure elite upside without surrendering future flexibility. The conversation pivots toward apple-to-apples comparisons like Sanderson, Faber, Hughes, and Luke Hughes, with Hutson’s camp eyeing Luke Hughes as a practical benchmark. The market has begun resetting, as early 2020s RFAs sign for shorter terms and slightly less money, reinforcing the idea that Hutson’s extension will balance immediate value with long-term ceiling.