OTTAWA, Ontario, St. Louis PAUL, Minn. — Lane Hutson sat in the Boston University Terriers team lounge at a downtown St. Paul hotel Wednesday afternoon, reminiscing a bit, but mostly about the next day’s Frozen 4 semifinals. I was looking forward to playing against the University of Denver.
He didn’t know at the time that it would be the last college game of his young career, but the prospect of joining the Montreal Canadiens when that day came had been following Hutson all season, and now it’s happening. It was. First. And he was already preparing for it.
“I talk to (Logan) Cooley a lot,” Hutson said. “I even sent him emails when he was going through it, knowing what he was thinking. Seeing how seamlessly he transitioned, it gives you a little bit of an idea. He’s a pretty special player, but…he says, ‘It’s a sport, it’s a sport.’ it’s fun. ” It’s not game-breaking.
“We’re here to have fun. We’re here to entertain the people watching.”
Hutson is certainly interesting, but that’s not all.
Congratulations to Macklin Celebrini and Lane Hutson on being selected to the All-American First Team!#proudBU pic.twitter.com/sD96JNuEwj
— Men’s Hockey Club (@TerrierHockey) April 12, 2024
When the Canadian Forces drafted Hutson at the Bell Center in Montreal less than two years ago, co-director of amateur scouting Nick Bobroff called Hutson a “great brain.” Hutson’s processing ability on the ice and in the film room has been his calling card for years.
Basically, he’s a player made specifically to play for Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis.
“I feel like (video) is a really good tool, especially in recent years,” Hutson said. “You just get to watch all the best players and watch yourself and see what you can strive for. It’s so cool. Even as an adult, you watch TV and watch Patrick Kane and Jonathan… I was watching people like Toews and Duncan Keith because I’m a Chicago kid. It was really special to watch them grow up.”
The next day, Hutson’s Terriers lost in overtime to Denver in the national semifinals, and the following Friday, Hutson signed an entry-level contract with the Canadiens.
The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a three-year entry-level contract (2023-24 to 2025-26) with defenseman Lane Hutson.
News release↓ #gohubsgo https://t.co/uWytag3nYa
— Canadian Montreal (@CanadiensMTL) April 12, 2024
Hutson is scheduled to meet the team in Detroit on Sunday night, and the Canadians will face the Red Wings on Monday.
And sitting opposite Hutson is none other than Kane. Not a bad way to make your NHL debut.
Hutson arrived with the Canadian team a little more than three weeks after linebacker David arrived from Switzerland. Leinbacher played in nine games with the AHL’s Laval Rocket alongside Logan Mailloux and is another big piece to the Canadiens’ future on the blue line. At the big club, Kaiden Guhl has taken a big step forward this season, as has Arbor Shekaj. Jaden Struble and Jordan Harris have shown to be well-rounded, strong skating options to round out Montreal’s future defensive corps, and Justin Barron was sent to Laval in January. I’ve had the opportunity to show off what I’ve learned since then.
But Hutson is unique among this group, and one of the players hoping to fit into the new NHL mold of a diminutive defenseman who can compete thanks to his agility, good feet, and most importantly, quick mind. be.
Three weeks ago, while the Canadiens were in Vancouver, Canucks captain Quinn Hughes gave a bland talk about how he found his way from the NCAA to the NHL after excelling at the University of Michigan. No questions asked. Hughes said first that he has to learn that he can’t easily beat NHL players with his legs like he did during his NCAA days and to trust his teammates more. But then he admitted that he knew what the question was actually about.
“I understand why you ask,” Ms. Hughes said. “But I’m sure he’ll understand, and he’ll be fine.”
It turns out Hutson, like New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox, has his eye on Hughes as someone he hopes to see in the NHL. In other words, he’s the favorite to win this season’s Norris Trophy and the winner in 2021. That’s a pretty high hurdle.
“Yeah, if you were half as good as those guys, you’d be in a pretty good position,” Hutson said. “I’m trying to be one of those people too. You never know what’s going to happen, how things are going to play out. If I can be even a third of those guys, You’re in a pretty good position.”
Defenseman Lane Hutson signs with Montreal Canadiens – Adds another high-end prospect to the mix with Habs – Second pair of even-strength upside – Play driver – Creative – Elite hockey flair and Vision – Power Play Quarterback – Scouting Report 👇 pic.twitter.com/UFiL8C47TI
— Pro Hockey Group (@ProHockeyGroup) April 12, 2024
Hutson said the Canadians trusted the BU coaching staff, led by Jay Pandolfo, and left them more or less alone for most of the season. Pandolfo predicted in December how much St. Louis would enjoy coaching Hutson.
“It’s pretty incredible what Marty had to go through to become a player, but obviously he’s a smaller player, so I think he’ll really enjoy coaching the lanes. I really think so.” Mr. Pandolfo said. “He’s going to have a lot of respect for the way he plays his game, and that’s certainly going to help Lane as well.”
But another factor is that the description Pandolfo gave of Hutson this week in St. Paul sounds like exactly the kind of guy St. Louis would want to coach.
“It starts with his hockey IQ. He’s just a really intelligent hockey player,” Pandolfo said just before Frozen 4. “He can read plays very well. He’s a step or two ahead of everyone else. He sees things before they become obvious. In addition, he He’s really competitive. He doesn’t like to lose in anything he does. He’s like that every day in practice. He competes in every drill. That’s how he’s wired. That’s what he’s like. help.
“Don’t worry about his skill level. But if you have a competitive edge on top of that, that goes a long way.”
The challenge for Hutson will be to prove he can play at the NHL level without the puck and protect and recover the puck so he can be at his best in the offensive zone. It may take time, but Pandolfo believes his hockey IQ, combined with his competitiveness, will eventually make it less of an issue.
But that’s a traditional view of a hockey player, and Hutson is not a traditional hockey player. He’s a player who represents what the game is going to be, not what it has been, and that’s why Canadians should be excited to see him make his NHL debut on Monday.
“I definitely think the game is changing,” Hutson said. “Changes will continue. Let’s see how the game goes.”
(Photo of Lane Hutson in Frozen 4: Richard T. Gagnon/Getty Images)
