2023 Montreal Canadiens Top 25 Under 25: #6 Lane Hutson

Introduction

It’s hard to describe Lane Hutson as anything but special after his first NCAA season at Boston University. The 62nd overall pick from the 2022 NHL Draft has spent the last year re-writing record books and collecting an obscene amount of hardware as a true freshman.

Finishing as the scoring leader in Hockey East, top seven in scoring for the entire NCAA, and being named a finalist for the Hobey Baker, it seems almost insane to say that Hutson hasn’t even come close to reaching his final form. Yet, it remains true as the diminutive defender continues to prove his doubters wrong over and over again.

Fans will have to wait at least another year to see Hutson pull on a Canadiens sweater though as the defender has indicated that he is returning to BU for his sophomore season. It isn’t unsurprising that Hutson wants to return as he looks to improve parts of his game, and possibly lay claim to the one trophy that slipped out of his grasp last year.

It’s not just that he is so readily involved in the offence that makes Hutson a budding star, it’s that he makes himself the catalyst for so many special plays on a nightly basis. BU was not a team bereft of talented producers, and yet it was Hutson leading the team in terms of scoring, while playing second-pairing minutes for most of the year. With his vision, agility and belief that he can always make something happen out of nothing, it’s not a big stretch to think he keeps his historic pace going into next season.

Hutson is one for the future. Stepping in as a talismanic piece in a budding defensive group for the Habs, and his rise in the rankings reflects the excitement for that day.

Voting

The rankings were as tight as they could possibly be without having a tie between Hutson and David Reinbacher: one-twelfth of a ranking spot in the averaged results. Perhaps that’s fitting since they could be joined at the hip for many seasons to come.

T25U25 History

2022 Montreal Canadiens Top 25 Under 25: #13 Lane Hutson

There are few defencemen of Lane Hutson’s size who make it to the NHL. But then again, there are very few prospects like Lane Hutson.

Eyes On The PrizeAnton Rasegård

We were impressed enough with Hutson’s USNTDP performance at the time of the 2022 NHL Draft to place with within the top 15 in his first year. When he did more incredible things at the NCAA level last year, he jumped seven spots this time around. It’s the biggest move on the list outside that seen by fellow 2022-drafted defenceman Adam Engström.

History of #6

Strengths

Hutson came into this past season as a deft playmaker, and the rampage he went on through the NCAA did little to alter that description. If anything he’s increased his reputation as a dominant playmaker on the blue line and the driving force behind BU’s offence in most games. He sees the ice in a way that few can match, putting pucks in tight windows for his teammates and opening up so many new avenues of attack at the same time.

What makes Hutson such a force with the puck on his stick is that his skating ability and evasive tendencies make him a handful for even the most seasoned defenders. Hutson skates incredibly well and mixes in the ability to change direction or disguise his intentions with a cavalcade of fakes. He looks like he’s going in one direction, and just as quickly can find himself cutting through the slot while the defence is left trying to catch up.

While one of the elite defensive playmakers (second in the NCAA in assists), Hutson also added a knack for piling up goals. Leading the NCAA in goals (15) by a defender is impressive at any level, even more so as a true freshman.

Again, it is Hutson’s deceptive approach to the offensive zone that makes him such an incredible goal-scoring threat. His ability to stop, start, change direction, and utterly befuddle defenders opens up so many chances for himself and he makes the absolute most of them.

Weaknesses

Let us just clear the air on the biggest criticism of Hutson right now — he is not a large player despite a growth spurt this past year. Elite Prospects has him listed at 5′ 10″ tall, far from small but not exactly a towering presence, especially at about 160 lbs on most nights.

Hutson’s smaller frame means he does get bullied off the puck along the boards by bigger, strong players. It’s not often that he puts himself into a situation like that, but it’s a noticeable gap in his overall game. With that lack of size, Hutson can find himself being outmuscled in front of his own goal by larger opponents, something that can’t always be helped by good positioning.

His defensive game overall remains a work in progress. He isn’t going to become a shutdown quality defender overnight, nor should that become the expectation of him. Learning better defensive zone reads, and improving his quality of play along the boards are going to go a long way towards making Hutson a truly well-rounded defender at the next level.

Projection

The sky is the limit for Lane Hutson this upcoming season.

He was historically good in his first NCAA season, and while opposing teams now have some more film on him, it would be unwise to bet against the defenceman. He should be a staple piece of the U.S. blue line at the upcoming World Junior Championship in January, and will be the crown jewel piece at BU once again.

There was never really a doubt that Hutson would return back to the NCAA for his sophomore season, even with throngs of Canadiens fans hoping to see him don a Montreal sweater this year. Much like Cole Caufield before him, going back for another year to compile more scoring records, awards, and possible championships is the right call. It gives Hutson another year to work on his flaws as he prepares for the next step.

It is expected that BU will be another player heading into the Frozen Four again, so many fans waiting for the Hutson NHL debut will likely wait deep into the spring. However, based on everything we’ve seen thus far, it’s a debut that will end up being a can’t miss viewing at this point.

Belle Fraser, co-director of the Daily Free Press’s Boston University Hockey Blog, and former EOTP contributor Laura Saba, from Locked On Canadiens, join the podcast to discuss Lane Hutson.

Fraser has a lot of insight into Hutson’s development and leadership qualities thanks to her daily work with Boston University’s hockey team.

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