Juraj Slafkovsky targets 65-70 points in 2025-26 as Montreal’s evolving core takes another leap toward elite status. The Canadiens fortified the lineup by adding Noah Dobson to bolster defense and push the team into bona fide playoff contention. Slafkovsky emphasizes improving puck control, scoring touch, and consistency, intent on proving his summer work translates to the rink. Dobson’s presence should anchor the blue line and unlock more offensive freedom for the dynamic youngster and his linemates.

The offseason grind is clear: nonstop training, video work with Adam Nicholas, and a focus on being a driving force for the club. Montreal’s front office, led by Kent Hughes, has set a high ceiling for the team, signaling a season where the kid who was once the top pick could blossom into a true power forward. The path to that breakout hinges on staying healthy, delivering consistent effort night after night, and capitalizing on new chemistry with a more formidable defense and improved special-teams execution.

Heading into 2025-26, if Slafkovsky hits the 65-70-point mark and the Canadiens stay in the hunt, Montreal’s competitive window could open wide in the East. Dobson’s steadying influence and Slafkovsky’s targeted growth would form a high-upside duo, elevating the club from playoff hopeful to a dangerous adversary for others in the conference.

Lane Hutson’s Calder-winning rookie season anchors Montreal’s long-term plan as talks on his next deal heat up. Sources say both sides are in a good place and contract discussions are ongoing, with a seven-year, roughly $56 million target floated as a feasible ceiling for a cornerstone defenseman. Montreal’s young core—Hutson, Guhle, Struble, plus veterans like Mike Matheson and Noah Dobson on the backend—gives the Canadiens a dynamic, puck-moving layer to pair with depth, setting up a potential playoff push in a still-open Eastern Conference. The Panthers remain the division bar, but Montreal’s path to relevance, playoffs, and sustained fantasy upside looks clearer with Hutson at the helm and a growing blueline around him.

Hutson’s rise, selected 62nd in 2022, maps onto a future where Montreal leans on a blue line built for offense and elite defensive play. Dobson adds veteran steadiness, Guhle and Struble blend youth with upside, and Matheson supplies experience. Retaining Hutson is portrayed as the next-step move to lock in a bright, long-term horizon for the Canadiens, making the team and fantasy rosters worth watching as the contracts and development timeline unfold.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, just 21 years old, has taken the NHL by storm, claiming the 2025 Calder Memorial Trophy after a remarkable rookie season that saw him notch 66 points, including 60 assists. His impressive performance has caught the attention of analysts, who foresee a monumental contract on the horizon that could redefine the market for young defensemen. According to NHL analyst Dan Rosen, if Hutson builds on his already stellar season, he could demand a salary exceeding Noah Dobson’s $9.5 million annual cap hit.

Currently, Hutson is in the midst of an entry-level contract with a modest $950,000 cap hit, set to expire after the 2025-26 season. Following the Canadiens' recent acquisition of Dobson, who is now the highest-paid player on the roster, Hutson's future deal would significantly affect the team's salary structure. Hutson is part of a promising young defensive core alongside Dobson, Kaiden Guhle, and David Reinbacher, all under 25, indicating a bright future for the Canadiens' blue line.