The Rise of Lane Hutson
The Montreal Canadiens’ defenseman Lane Hutson has seen a remarkable turnaround this season following a period of contract negotiations that initially hampered his performance. With those issues resolved, Hutson has elevated his gameplay, currently trending towards an impressive 82-point season. In the first half of the season, he has recorded 42 games, showcasing a plus-13 rating and amassed seven points in just his last five outings, three of which were multi-point performances.
Key Attributes and Skills
This surge in effectiveness led general manager Kent Hughes to express surprise at Hutson’s rapid development during his mid-season appraisal, reflecting that he hadn’t anticipated Hutson to shine so early in his career.
A key element of Hutson’s success on the ice is his remarkable ability to maintain puck possession, a feat often surprising given his smaller stature at 5-foot-9. His skill was underscored in a recent Stathletes analysis by Meghan Chayka, which ranked him second overall among NHL players in the percentage of ice time spent with the puck. Hutson’s 12.40% figure puts him just behind Minnesota Wild’s Quinn Hughes at 14.52% and ahead of New York Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer at 11.95%—noteworthy given Schaefer’s inexperience at the NHL level.
Impact on the Game
Coach Martin St-Louis has frequently noted Hutson’s desire to take charge in crucial moments, adding to his impressive puck possession metrics. His agility and creative playstyle allow him to evade defenders effectively, leading to lengthy spells with the puck that keep opponents guessing. His chemistry with fellow player Ivan Demidov is evident, as they both possess a natural hockey instinct that amplifies their partnerships on the ice.
During power plays, Hutson’s presence becomes even more crucial. His absence from a recent 5-on-3 opportunity in favor of Noah Dobson demonstrated the limitations of a more straightforward power play approach, as Dobson’s shot may be powerful, but lacks the inventive passing that Hutson brings to the floor. The young player’s impressive patience and strategic decision-making have evolved from the early days of his NHL career, where he might have been prone to riskier plays. Now, he waits for prime opportunities or engineers his plays with precision.
Versatility and Future Potential
Hutson’s versatility is seen across various team scenarios: whether on the ice during even play, power plays, or penalty kills, he is always prepared to contribute. While St-Louis prefers to limit Hutson’s roles on the penalty kill, he has nevertheless showcased his capability to adapt when necessary, stepping up during Mike Matheson’s absence.
Signed to an eight-year contract, Hutson has a cap hit of $8,850,000 that seems increasingly advantageous for the Canadiens as he continues to impress, suggesting he will earn every bit of this $70.8 million deal over its duration. Although he has yet to make the USA national team roster, it is reasonable to expect that he may eventually secure a spot in future competitions.
Management’s Confidence
“We have talent coming… I watched a lot of Lane Hutson; he played with my son. I watched him all the way up. I didn’t know when we signed him out of college, and I’d like to say I knew, but I didn’t know he was gonna be that good that fast…”
As Hutson continues to develop, he firmly establishes himself as a vital asset to the Canadiens’ future success.
