The Montreal Canadiens had one of the uglier first periods we’ve seen from them in a while on Tuesday night. In Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Hockey Club, they spent the better part of the first 20 minutes with someone in the box, and had absolutely nothing going for them even when they weren’t in penalty trouble. The shot clock read 14-3 for Utah after the first, but they completely flipped the script in the next 40 minutes, allowing only 11 shots the rest of the way, and
One of the key players who helped turn that game around was rookie Lane Hutson, with his three points now raising the question of whether he might end up with the best rookie season ever by a Hab.
This was perhaps his most impressive of three assists on the night. It is preposterous for a rookie to have that much power in gaining the zone, then forcing the entire opposing group to lock eyes with him and worry about what he’s doing. When he moves that puck, he’s drawn so much attention that Kirby Dach has all the time in the world to decide what to do with it. The correct decision was made, and the Canadiens took their first lead of the game on that play.
The rookie scoring record as a Hab is jointly held by Kjell Dahlin and Mats Naslund, who both hit the 71 point mark. Hutson is currently on pace for around 67 points, which leaves the record set by two forwards within his reach. When you consider how Hutson has been steadily improving as this season goes on, it doesn’t seem all that crazy to suggest that he could overshoot his current projection and set a new record.
Lane Hutson's version of figuring out the NHL: Over Games 1-23: 0 G, 13 A, -15 Over Games 24-45: 3 G, 21 A, +9 Anyone care to guess what he'll do from 46 to 84 of his career? I'm just assuming there will be nothing average about it…
— Eric Engels (@ericengels.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Even if he fails to reach 71 points, his pace right now should see him slightly above the next two players tied for second place in rookie scoring with 64 points apiece. One just happened to be an American defenceman by the name of Chris Chelios. The other, well he was just some guy named Guy Lafleur. No big deal.
Hutson is still often underestimated by opposing teams, so-called prospect experts, and opposing fans. The latter two may be more out of sheer terror, since they are afraid of being proven wrong, or having to watch him stack points against their favourite team.
At any rate, the doubters are slowly being silenced by the brilliant play of Lane Hutson.
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