The Montreal Canadiens have extended the contracts of general manager Kent Hughes and hockey operations executive Jeff Gorton for multiple years, the NHL team announced on Tuesday. Gorton will transition to the role of president of hockey operations as part of the new agreements. Both Hughes and Gorton were previously in the final year of their contracts.
Under the leadership of Hughes and Gorton, the Montreal team has experienced a remarkable resurgence, making a surprising return to the playoffs last season after a three-year absence. The Canadiens have seen success with a talented young core, which includes players like captain Nick Suzuki, promising newcomer Ivan Demidov, and defenseman Lane Hutson – the reigning rookie of the year who recently signed an eight-year, $70.8 million contract extension.
Gorton, who served as the general manager of the New York Rangers from 2015 until May 2021, joined the Canadiens as the executive vice president of hockey operations in the same year. Hughes, a Montreal native, took on the role of GM in January 2022 and wasted no time in making key decisions, such as hiring 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.