Last Thursday, I dedicated almost my entire column to the show Laraque & Gonzalez about Lane Hutson.
Let’s just say his three-point game and first star in Salt Lake City only added weight to his exceptional track record since arriving in the NHL.
I still pinch myself every time I see Lane Hutson dance on the ice…
Incredible statistics
Hutson is the best defenseman for the Canadiens in 45 years…
He is the MVP of the first half of the CH season…
He is one of the biggest surprises in the entire NHL since the start of the campaign…
He is the third-best scorer for the CH this season, behind Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield…
He is the best passer on the team so far in 2024-25…
Only Juraj Slafkovsky and Logan Cooley – two guys who are respectively in their third and second seasons in the show – have more points than Hutson among the players drafted in 2022. Not bad for a guy picked at the end of the second round…
He was named rookie of the month for December in the NHL and is on track to win this title again in January…
He is the top scorer among rookies this season, four points ahead of Michkov and Celebrini…
He has nine games with more than one point already this year…
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He is the sixth-best scorer among all defensemen in the Bettman circuit, ahead of Victor Hedman, Adam Fox, Evan Bouchard, Erik Karlsson, Rasmus Dahlin, Roman Josi, Mikhail Sergachev, John Carlson, Moritz Seider, Mike Matheson, and more…
He has recorded at least one point in each of his last five games. This is the third time this season he has gone through such a streak…
He is capable of playing simply but also in a more complicated way. The fact that he is just as capable of getting secondary assists on the power play, as well as many spectacular primary assists at five-on-five, proves it.
There was one game this year where Hutson had the puck on his stick for more than four minutes. Michael Pezzetta doesn’t even play that, four minutes, in a game…
He holds his own physically; he seems to be at his best when the going gets tough…
We thought he would only be a power play specialist, but he is very good defensively and also produces at even strength…
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Lane Hutson was good last year in his two games against the Red Wings. He also performed very well during the first 23 games of the current season (13 assists).
But the small American defenseman has really reached a whole other level since November 27.
Only Mike Matheson (24m35) spends more time on the ice on average per game than Hutson (22m43). But Matheson is a veteran, and the fact that he has ceded his place on the team’s first-power play unit to Hutson is likely to decrease his average ice time (and increase Hutson’s).
The rapid emergence of Hutson has brought everyone back to their positions, especially Mike Matheson.
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Trophies to be won
Many believe that Lane Hutson will win the Calder Trophy this year, especially those who have watched his last 22 games.
“Many people”, however, does not include Kevin Weekes and Adnan Virk from the NHL Network.
Who would get your vote for rookie of the year right now?@KevinWeekes | @adnansvirk pic.twitter.com/1QdlCtPaSm
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) January 11, 2025
Darren Dreger sees Hutson as a superstar in the making.
Darren Dreger: A Star In The Making https://t.co/C9ho5Iz2tB
— TSN 690 Montreal (@TSN690) January 15, 2025
Both P.K. Subban and Renaud Lavoie predict not only a probable Calder Trophy for Hutson; they go so far as to predict a Norris Trophy for him. Do I need to remind you that such a trophy is awarded to the best defenseman in the entire NHL?
Entrevue avec P.K. Subban! On a jasé de Lane Hutson et de poutine, entre autres… (@PKSubban1) #LaneHutson #Habs https://t.co/5dByqiWkCv
— Benoît Rioux – Journal de Montréal (@benrioux) January 15, 2025
Oubliez le Calder, Lane Hutson VA gagner le trophée Norris un jour! 🏆#Norris #hutson #canadiens #clubdumatin pic.twitter.com/RyFC8XwPkD
— BPM Sports (@BPMSportsRadio) January 15, 2025
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The lack of respect towards Hutson
Some commentators continue to show disrespect towards the young Canadiens defenseman.
The most recent? Corey Pronman, who stated yesterday that Lane Hutson might one day become a top-four defenseman in the NHL.
Cr*pp! He is already top two in Montreal… and top 10 in the NHL!
Corey, when you miss the mark that much, you make your mea culpa; you admit your mistake. Just like the Snake dared to do this week on Processus…
Especially since you claim to be an expert on young players (just like the Snake and Pronman).
Corey Pronman says Lane Hutson could “still be a top-four defenseman.” I guess it’s possible he drops from being a top pairing D man but it seems unlikely.
— Eric Macramalla (@EricMacramalla) January 15, 2025
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We are lucky to have him
Let’s take a few minutes on this day off for the Canadiens to appreciate how lucky we are to have a young player like Lane Hutson. We are used to dreaming about Hutsons and watching them thrive elsewhere while thinking: “we never have players like that in Montreal.”
Or we trade them too early!
Damn, he’s going to break the bank with his next contract, little Lane. If Slafkovsky was able to earn nearly as much as Nick Suzuki, Hutson will surpass the captain.
I expect an eight-year contract with an average annual salary between eight and nine million dollars.
Don’t forget that the salary cap will rise significantly in the coming years…