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Here is an interesting piece of information for Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens, confirmed by TVA Sports journalist Nicolas Cloutier.
A significant amount of money is coming to Montreal. A nice gift!
And Kent Hughes will now have to make an important decision regarding how this money will be distributed.
Nicolas Cloutier of TVA Sports shared the detailed information on social media.
“With this third-round defeat, the Habs will receive $2.25 million from the League, which they can redistribute to their players in the form of bonuses.
It’s worth noting that players no longer receive their paychecks during the playoffs.”
The analyst also clarified a crucial detail in a follow-up post.
“The redistribution of the amount is entirely at the team’s discretion, for those wondering.”
Kent Hughes will personally decide how to distribute the $2.25 million among Canadiens players
It’s important to understand that NHL players do not receive regular paycheques during the playoffs.
That is precisely why this amount represents a significant reward for the Canadiens’ playoff performance.
And $2.25 million distributed among roughly twenty players clearly represents substantial individual amounts.
For Kent Hughes personally, this is the type of delicate situation that requires a great deal of judgment.
How should this money be distributed fairly among all the players who contributed?
Several complex questions will need to be addressed.
What happens to players who did not play a single game during the playoffs?
Patrik Laine did not participate in any games during the 2026 playoffs.
The Finnish forward practiced with the extra skaters while remaining officially on long-term injured reserve. Will he receive a share of the bonuses like the other players?
The Quebec-born backup goaltender did not play a single game during the playoffs. Yet he remained present for every game and actively supported Jakub Dobes throughout his emergence as the Canadiens’ starting goaltender.
Does he deserve a full share of the bonus pool? A partial share? Nothing at all?
It remains to be seen how Kent Hughes will ultimately distribute the $2.25 million among Canadiens players.
And whether veterans such as Patrik Laine, Samuel Montembeault, and Brendan Gallagher will indeed receive their full shares despite their limited participation during the 2026 playoffs.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics
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Kent Hughes and Canadiens receive unexpected NHL gift after playoff elimination
Do you think Kent Hughes should distribute the $2.25 million in bonuses equally among all Canadiens players, including players like Patrik Laine and Samuel Montembeault?