In a move that has sparked immediate debate across the NHL, Montreal Canadiens General Manager Kent Hughes announced on Wednesday that the team has locked up forward Alexandre Texier through the 2027-28 season. The two-year extension, worth a total of $5 million, rewards a player who was a discarded free agent just weeks ago, raising questions about whether the Canadiens are overpaying for a «flash in the pan» performance.
From St. Louis reject to Montreal’s multi million dollar man
The optics of the deal are striking. Before landing in Montreal on November 23, Texier was struggling to find his footing with the St. Louis Blues, managing a dismal single assist in eight games. However, since donning the Canadiens jersey, the French native has undergone a suspicious transformation, exploding for 16 points in just 25 games—including a career-first hat trick against the Florida Panthers on January 8.
Critics argue that Kent Hughes is falling into a classic trap: rewarding a «hot streak» with long-term guaranteed money. With an average annual value (AAV) of $2.5 million, the Canadiens are betting that this version of Texier is the real one, despite a career history marked by inconsistency and a modest 107 points in 265 career games.
High stakes for the 2026 olympics and beyond
The timing of the extension is also noteworthy. Texier is set to represent France at the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. By signing him now, Montreal avoids the risk of his price tag skyrocketing if he performs on the world stage—but they also take on the full risk of injury or a return to his previous low-scoring form.
Standing at 6-foot-1 and known for his physical edge (evidenced by 102 career penalty minutes), Texier provides a specific grit that the Canadiens front office clearly prizes. However, in a salary cap era where every dollar counts, many fans are wondering if that $2.5 million could have been better spent on a more proven offensive threat.
Hughes doubles down on his vision
Kent Hughes has built a reputation for unconventional moves, and this extension is no exception. By securing Texier for two more years, the Canadiens are signaling that they believe they have found a «diamond in the rough.» Whether this becomes a brilliant bargain or another anchor on the team’s cap space remains to be seen, but the pressure is now squarely on Texier to prove that his recent scoring surge wasn’t just a fluke.