NHL Player of the Month: Lane Hutson
We saw at the end of last season that Lane Hutson had the ability to record some points at the NHL level. Going into his first full year, most probably thought he’d finish around the 40-point mark, an encouraging half-point-per-game opening season. I don’t think many of us expected him to be on the verge of breezing past 60 points, and becoming the best defenceman on the team before his rookie season was up.
He went on record after he and most of his teammates had two weeks off for the 4 Nations Face-Off saying he wanted to get back to the style of game he plays best after starting see his production drop while playing a safer style. In March he put together his first point-per-game month of the campaign, ranking second on the team with 15 points in 14 games, while averaging 23:22 per night.
Lane Hutson is an absolute madman, Nick Suzuki makes it 3-2
— Scott Matla (@scottmatla.bsky.social) March 30, 2025 at 4:09 PM
[image or embed]
With three assists in the final game he played in March, Hutson moved one back of the total Chris Chelios produced in his first season in 1984-85 with the Canadiens. If Hutson records eight more in the final nine games, he will have sole possession of the all-time record for helpers by a rookie blue-liner.
Honourable mention: Nick Suzuki
There were plenty of players who had a good month for Montreal. Christian Dvorak looked the best he has a Hab with 11 points, all at even strength, and Juraj Slafkovský went one better while scoring seven goals as he establishes his pattern of turning a slow start into a great finish. But, as we’ve seen all season long, Nick Suzuki was the most consistent performer with 17 points in 14 games, taking all the tough matchups and still producing at an elite level.
Mike Matheson to Nick Suzuki for the shorthanded goal Habs up 2-0!
— Scott Matla (@scottmatla.bsky.social) March 3, 2025 at 8:35 PM
[image or embed]
While we watch Hutson to see if he can set a rookie record, Suzuki is just five points from locking up an 82-point campaign, which would be the first one since Alex Kovalev’s in 2007-08. Both players would tell you they’re just doing their part to get the team into the post-season, and that’s all they’re focusing on.
— Justin Blades
AHL Player of the Month: Laurent Dauphin
It was a strong month for the Laval Rocket as they piled up nine wins in 12 games, and in the process punched their ticket to the Calder Cup playoffs. It was a month full of tightly contested games against primarily North Division rivals, and thanks to an incredible showing from their top line they picked up all but one point against those rivals.
While the combination of Sean Farrell and Alex Barré-Boulet showed incredible synergy, with Farrell collecting 13 points and Barré-Boulet 12, it was the third linemate who stood above all the rest. With an astounding eight goals and 10 assists, Laurent Dauphin is collecting the player of the month honours for March.
Laurent Dauphin goes five-hole while shorthanded and it's 1-0 Rocket!
— Scott Matla (@scottmatla.bsky.social) March 19, 2025 at 9:26 PM
[image or embed]
There wasn’t a single situation in which opposing teams could slow down Dauphin, He had strong showings on the power play, was a penalty-killing menace, and dominated the scoresheet at even strength.
Dauphin’s speed, and tenacity forced opposing teams to respect him every single time he stepped on the ice and that opened up plenty of space for his linemates as well. But with a hat trick to his name in an important game against the Toronto Marlies, it is Dauphin leading the charge into the playoffs for the Rocket
— Scott Matla
European Prospect of the Month: Vinzenz Rohrer
Due to an international break and the wild-card series there hasn’t been a lot of games to shine in for the European prospects. As the playoffs started in Sweden, all eyes were on Timrå’s first line featuring Oliver Kapanen, and in Russia, Ivan Demidov has had his ups and downs the past few days. However, Vinzenz Rohrer’s start to the playoffs in Switzerland has been great, and even if he plays on one of the better teams he puts up points from the third line.
Rohrer has four points (1G, 3A) in five games of the playoffs. He is trusted in all situations and his decision to go back to Switzerland before the 2023-24 season looks like a great choice in the end. The Zürich coaching staff has turned him into a formidable asset in the Canadiens organization. He does it all, killing penalties, working the power play, and being on the ice for the final minutes as the leads needs to be held.
Nice assist here from Vinzenz Rohrer, setting up the Andrighetto for Zürich second goal of the night. Nice little move to create space and the first chance too.
— Patrik Bexell (@zebhabs.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 4:32 PM
[image or embed]
With he and his team playing so well, it looks like the Austrian will have a chance to lift a second championship trophy this season.
— Patrik Bexell
North American Prospect of the Month: Jacob Fowler
Despite missing out of the Frozen Four following a 3-1 loss against the powerhouse Denver University Broncos, Jacob Fowler still easily earns the title for the month of March. With six goals allowed in five games, a .955 save percentage and one shutout, the 20-year-old netminder showed his composure in big games and key moments, a now central aspect of his game that led him to run away with the title of Hockey East Goaltender of the Year.
The silver lining of Fowler’s early elimination is that the Habs’ third-round pick in 2023 is now primed to sign with the Canadiens organization and join the pro ranks, and signs are pointing toward that happening in the next few days.
Whether Fowler signs an amateur tryout to play in Laval or burns a year of his entry-level deal by joining Montreal right away, the progression in his game over the last two years gives him an edge on other similar-aged prospects when it comes to the professional game. He is now in great shape physically, and his composure and technique far outpace his age group.
A highly-competitive, driven, and motivated goaltender, Fowler has a lot of the mental attributes of an early bloomer, but unless the Habs dig a trench between them and the rest of the wild-card contenders in this tight race, Fowler may not see NHL ice this season; he can burn a year off his contract by dressing in one game as the Habs’ backup netminder. The plan is likely to slowly integrate Fowler into pro hockey, starting him for Laval next fall in a rotation with Cayden Primeau or Jakub Dobes and letting merit dictate the rest. Fowler has starter qualities across the board, and it shouldn’t take him long to put them on full display as a pro.
— Hadi Kalakeche
PWHL Player of the Month: Laura Stacey
Laura Stacey took a step last month, leading the Victoire in scoring with 10 points in the eight games the team played. She had four goals and six assists, including scoring a goal in four straight games in a stretch that straddled the end of February and beginning of March. Stacey scored the game-winning goal in two of the Victoire’s four wins and doubled her season point total.
Stacey with the hot stick! 🔥 With Laura Stacey's goal yesterday for @victoire-lphf.bsky.social, she became the third player in league history to go on a four-game goal streak!
— PWHL (@thepwhl.com) March 5, 2025 at 11:45 AM
[image or embed]
It wasn’t an easy month for the Victoire, but Stacey’s emergence as a top-line forward has been a very welcome development.
Honourable Mentions: Marie-Philip Poulin had a team-high five goals in March, extending her league-leading total to 17. Ann-Renée Desbiens went 3-0-1 in the month, and surely would have been in contention if not for an injury.
— Jared Book
| NHL Player | AHL Player | EUR Prospect | NA Prospect | PWHL Player | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | Lane Hutson | Laurent Dauphin | Vinzenz Rohrer | Jacob Fowler | Laura Stacey |
| February | Nick Suzuki | Sean Farrell | Oliver Kapanen | Michael Hage | Ann-Renée Desbiens |
| January | Nick Suzuki | Cayden Primeau | Ivan Demidov | Jacob Fowler | Marie-Philip Poulin |
| December | Jake Evans | Adam Engström | Oliver Kapanen | Owen Protz | Abby Boreen |
| November | Nick Suzuki | Jared Davidson | Oliver Kapanen | Jacob Fowler | |
| October | Cole Caufield | Joshua Roy | Ivan Demidov | Sam Harris |
Players of February
Players of January
Players of December
Players of November
Players of October
