Lane Hutson’s extension talks with Montreal hinge on a realistic, RFA-era framework rather than a UFA-year windfall. Comparables tilt toward Jake Sanderson and Brock Faber, with Quinn Hughes used as a ceiling reference, suggesting six-to-eight years at roughly 8.8–9.5 million cap hit in a market that’s cooling for top RFAs. Hutson’s five years of RFA eligibility and no arbitration rights cut into leverage, while a Luke Hughes-style blueprint in New Jersey could inform Montreal’s approach. The piece underscores that Hutson could be elite, but his deal will likely maximize early value within the RFA window rather than chase a UFA payday.