Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes has set a salary structure for forwards based on Nick Suzuki's contract, prioritizing Suzuki as the team leader. The team faces upcoming negotiations with young defensemen, including Kaiden Guhle. The future salary discussions will involve RFAs Arber Xhekaj, Justin Barron, and Mattias Norlinder, each at different stages of their careers.

Among the RFAs, Xhekaj shows negotiation power due to his playstyle and role on the team. Guhle's contract will serve as a measuring stick for young defensemen in negotiations, considering his impact and production on the ice. Signing Guhle to a reasonable contract is crucial for future negotiations with other potential offensive defensemen in the team's system.