The Montreal Canadiens have extended the contracts of general manager Kent Hughes and hockey operations executive Jeff Gorton for multiple years, the NHL team revealed on Tuesday. Gorton will transition to a new position as the president of hockey operations, as both were in the final year of their previous agreements.
Under the leadership of Hughes and Gorton, Montreal has experienced a remarkable resurgence, surpassing expectations to make a playoff appearance last season following a three-year absence. The team’s success has been driven by 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.
Gorton, who previously served as the general manager of the New York Rangers until May 2021, assumed the role of executive vice-president of hockey operations for the Canadiens later that year. Hughes, a Montreal native, took on the GM position in January 2022 and wasted no time in making key decisions, including hiring a new head coach.
The Canadiens had a promising start to the 2025-26 season with a 2-1-0 record before their home opener against Seattle on Tuesday night.
