The Montreal Canadiens announced on Tuesday that they have extended the contracts of general manager Kent Hughes and hockey operations executive Jeff Gorton for multiple years. In addition, Gorton will take on the new role of president of hockey operations, as both were in the final year of their contracts.
Hughes and Gorton have overseen a remarkable turnaround for the Montreal team, guiding them back to the playoffs last season after a three-year hiatus. The Canadiens’ success has been fueled by a talented young core, including standout players like captain Nick Suzuki, promising rookie Ivan Demidov, and defenseman Lane Hutson, who was the previous season’s rookie of the year and recently signed an eight-year, $70.8 million contract extension.
Gorton previously served as the general manager of the New York Rangers from 2015 until May 2021 before joining the Canadiens as the executive vice president of hockey operations. Hughes, a Montreal native, took on the role of GM in January 2022 and made one of his initial moves by appointing a new head coach.
The Canadiens started the 2025-26 season with a 2-1-0 record and were set to play their home opener against Seattle on Tuesday night.