Prospect Info: [2022 - 62nd] Lane Hutson (NCAA - Boston University)

[dcyhabs]

Yeah, emphasis on the bolded. Having a small reach as a defenseman is always going to be a problem in the NHL. No amount of IQ or athleticism can remedy that.

As you said, if the IQ and skating is elite, of course Hutson could have a beneficial role on the team. But being a top pairing heavy minute D in the NHL is mostly impossible if you are under 6'+ . Defending efficiently along the boards, or just managing gap control with short arms/legs and a shorter stick is just impossible to compensate for.

The skating is very much not elite now but he has some time to work on it.

 

[Twisted Sinister]

The skating is very much not elite now but he has some time to work on it.

Could a skating expert on here maybe let us know what's wrong with it? I've heard that before, but it's looked fine whenever I've seen it as a layman. What's wrong with his skating mechanically and is it fixable?

 

[Matthew McConaughay]

The skating is very much not elite now but he has some time to work on it.

I think he's pretty quick and agile on his skates, could he improve, of course he can.

 

[The Great Weal]

How the f*** did we get this guy at the end of round 2? We got 4 1st round talents in this draft.

 

[BaseballCoach]

How the f*** did we get this guy at the end of round 2? We got 4 1st round talents in this draft.

Could well be, and Engstrom, Rohrer and Guindon might be 2nd round talents. Davidson is another guy who plays two rounds higher than he was drafted.

 

[Le Tricolore]

How the f*** did we get this guy at the end of round 2? We got 4 1st round talents in this draft.

The NHL still values size. There aren't too many successful defensemen that are Hutson's size.

Hopefully he pans out and is a steal though.

 

[Runner77]

How the f*** did we get this guy at the end of round 2? We got 4 1st round talents in this draft.

Easy answer: the same reason Caufield slipped.

Most GMs have a size fixation.

 

[The Great Weal]

The NHL still values size. There aren't too many successful defensemen that are Hutson's size.

Hopefully he pans out and is a steal though.

I don’t know how someone can pick a guy like Lamoureux over Hutson

 

[ChesterNimitz]

The NHL still values size. There aren't too many successful defensemen that are Hutson's size.

Hopefully he pans out and is a steal though.

If he becomes an elite level distributor on the power play, then who cares about size? You want size, let Hutson feed Mailloux at the other point all night long. Take away Mailloux, then Hutson will feed Caufield. Choose your poison. Oh, let's not forget Slafkovsky standing in front of the crease blocking the sight of the goalie and there for the rebounds. Still want another option? Then you have Suzuki at the opposite half boards. This has the makings of a dynamite power play. But of course Hutson is too small.

 

[morhilane]

How the f*** did we get this guy at the end of round 2? We got 4 1st round talents in this draft.

Because it was a "middle six/mid-pair" quality draft all the way to the 3rd round with a lots of under scouted players the last few years thanks to covid.

Beck should have been gone in the 20s and one Habs scout wanted him at 26, but Mesar was still there. And Hutson shouldn't have fallen that far, I think he might have scared off teams with his doc papers.

 

[Runner77]

Because it was a "middle six/mid-pair" quality draft all the way to the 3rd round with a lots of under scouted players the last few years thanks to covid.

Beck should have been gone in the 20s and one Habs scout wanted him at 26, but Mesar was still there. And Hutson shouldn't have fallen that far, I think he might have scared off teams with his doc papers.

His “doc papers”, meaning how he was supposed to have a growth spurt? That should have helped teams on the fence about him, no?

 

[Colezuki]

His “doc papers”, meaning how he was supposed to have a growth spurt? That should have helped teams on the fence about him, no?

remember the Caufield draft, I think teams react more positively to players who have self confidence and Caufield said "If I could be taller I wouldn't", whereas Hutson showed up and said "I'm going to grow" small distinction but it may have made teams have that sliver of doubt to slide him

 

[morhilane]

His “doc papers”, meaning how he was supposed to have a growth spurt? That should have helped teams on the fence about him, no?

Unless they didn't like how he presented them.

 

[DesmondDekker]

I don’t know how someone can pick a guy like Lamoureux over Hutson

 

[calder candidate]

I don’t know how someone can pick a guy like Lamoureux over Hutson

I’m guessing that they see it as a home run swing either way, but they think that Lamoureux might be make it has 3rd paring D if he isn’t a #1…

 

[Mrb1p]

Could a skating expert on here maybe let us know what's wrong with it? I've heard that before, but it's looked fine whenever I've seen it as a layman. What's wrong with his skating mechanically and is it fixable?

Who said he didnt have good skating?

His edges and crossovers are damn near perfect. He stays low, has good knee flexion and he generates speed on extension. Hes gonna get faster as he gets stronger but other than that I dont know why someone would say hes not a good skater. Theres a bit of a problem with his ankle flexion and outside edge control and his backwards skating isnt top notch because he lacks hip strength but honestly were reaching. He is 100% a good skater.

 

[Alexandre Magny]

Hutson a clairement le potentiel d'être un vol . Sa vision est de niveau élite. Si il aurait mesuré 2 pouces de plus il serait parti en 1ère ronde voir top 15.

 

[Twisted Sinister]

Who said he didnt have good skating?

His edges and crossovers are damn near perfect. He stays low, has good knee flexion and he generates speed on extension. Hes gonna get faster as he gets stronger but other than that I dont know why someone would say hes not a good skater. Theres a bit of a problem with his ankle flexion and outside edge control and his backwards skating isnt top notch because he lacks hip strength but honestly were reaching. He is 100% a good skater.

Been hearing about it mentioned here and there. Thanks for the report

 

[AHShadow]

Both these guys are listed at 1m 80cm. It's like a hair short of 6'...

Look, Raymond Bourque was exactly 6'. Just like Fox and Makar he was an amazing athlete and had sky high IQ.

I am not saying sub 6'2 guys can't be #1s, but it requires very elite talent to do so, more so on the defensive side of things. Lack of reach can be a problem when you are on the ice for more than a third of the game.

Controlling gaps and reach for pucks down low is just easier when you are taller.

It's definitely harder for shorter defensemen to be elite, but we are moving towards a much faster and smaller NHL where height matters a tad less (don't get me wrong, I still take a 6'2" defenseman over a 5'7" defenseman if they have the same skills), so there are more chances for Hutson to succeed.

Does he have a long way to go? Yeah I think so, but he definitely has the skills to get there. Plus if he is actually growing, then that's also a plus.

Just found this post on Twitter. I know Bader isn't necessarily liked here, but thought it was relevant and an interesting post that it seems like you can be too small AND too tall to make the NHL.

 

[calder candidate]

Could a skating expert on here maybe let us know what's wrong with it? I've heard that before, but it's looked fine whenever I've seen it as a layman. What's wrong with his skating mechanically and is it fixable?

I’m no expert but he is very agile and quick the problem is that I saw is that he doesn’t have great top end straight line speed Fw or backward. So some people probably see that and think is skating isn’t elite but I don’t think anything in is mechanic that is holding him back probably just need to get stronger.

 

[Sagikev]

Who said he didnt have good skating?

His edges and crossovers are damn near perfect. He stays low, has good knee flexion and he generates speed on extension. Hes gonna get faster as he gets stronger but other than that I dont know why someone would say hes not a good skater. Theres a bit of a problem with his ankle flexion and outside edge control and his backwards skating isnt top notch because he lacks hip strength but honestly were reaching. He is 100% a good skater.

He's also 145 lbs wet. He's bound to get stronger and gain mass, and that will mostly happen in his legs/hips area. He should be a stronger skater in his 20s.

 

[Wateredgarden]

Who said he didnt have good skating?

His edges and crossovers are damn near perfect. He stays low, has good knee flexion and he generates speed on extension. Hes gonna get faster as he gets stronger but other than that I dont know why someone would say hes not a good skater. Theres a bit of a problem with his ankle flexion and outside edge control and his backwards skating isnt top notch because he lacks hip strength but honestly were reaching. He is 100% a good skater.

His backward skating is more of a problem than most people would like to admit.

 

[Habs Halifax]

How the f*** did we get this guy at the end of round 2? We got 4 1st round talents in this draft.

Draft power helps. You can throw darts at multiple things. No doubt about it, Habs have done well with their 2nd+ round picks. Well above average but I guess we have to let that play out.

I’m no expert but he is very agile and quick the problem is that I saw is that he doesn’t have great top end straight line speed Fw or backward. So some people probably see that and think is skating isn’t elite but I don’t think anything in is mechanic that is holding him back probably just need to get stronger.

His ability to create space with his little bursts of skating is elite level. And he has the hockey IQ/skill to recognize when to be aggressive and when not too.

He does need to get stronger. That's going to help but at his size, he's always going to be the offensive/puck mover that needs sheltering in his own end. Especially playoff style hockey. Nothing to worry about if he is producing points and we got the right guys to pair him with.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I’m guessing that they see it as a home run swing either way, but they think that Lamoureux might be make it has 3rd paring D if he isn’t a #1…

Drafting a guy cause he has a higher base (3rd pairing) vs drafting a guy that is 1st pairing or bust is dumb. If you shoot for the stars and miss, you can easily find bottom of the line-up players to fill the voids. Keep shooting for the stars!

 

[calder candidate]

Drafting a guy cause he has a higher base (3rd pairing) vs drafting a guy that is 1st pairing or bust is dumb. If you shoot for the stars and miss, you can easily find bottom of the line-up players to fill the voids. Keep shooting for the stars!

In there mind they did draft the higher upside, If they see both player with similar upside than the base or position need might be the tie breaker, in there might they have the choice between a6’8’’ #1D or a 5’8’’#1D… With Seider blowing up everyone getting blinded by size even more than usual. They didn’t draft Lamoureux to be a 3rd pairing (although that is probably what he is) they are taking a big gable that he will improve.
Not saying that they are right, but to me that was a great pick because if they take someone else it create a domino effect and we might not get Beck or Hutson because even if a bunch of team past on them they had to be near the top of the list many times.