Lane Hutson Burgeoning Star Watch

[Luigi Lemieux]

No denying his talent is off the charts even if he does have work to do defensively. Was toying with Detroit

 

[Habsfan18]

 

[HespelerGreenFlash]

He also has the 2nd worst plus minus of any defenseman.

Not exactly playing with the76 Canadiens!!

 

[Michoulicious]

8th in D scoring in the NHL at 20 years old is respectable.

 

[Gravity]

I love the posts capping a rookie's potential as a 2nd pairing D ~30 games into his NHL career, when he's already doing more now.

 

[Jee]

All my homies mad

 

[Aurinko]

8th in D scoring in the NHL at 20 years old is respectable.

Well raised and extremely polite young man with boatload of skill.

He will break records.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

He also has the 2nd worst plus minus of any defenseman.

He also has the worst empty net +/- at 0gf 8ga.

His true +/-, outside empty net situations, is -6, and he's 110th in GF%, which is middle of the pack, despite being a rookie playing the most minutes and being saddled with defensive blackhole Matheson (whose true +/- is -8, worst than Hutson):

Thanks for playing, better luck next time.

 

[Andrei79]

He also has the worst empty net +/- at 0gf 8ga.

His true +/-, outside empty net situations, is -6, and he's 110th in GF%, which is middle of the pack, despite being a rookie playing the most minutes and being saddled with defensive blackhole Matheson (whose true +/- is -8, worst than Hutson):

Thanks for playing, better luck next time.

Always love seeing the main board clowns be embarrassed, as per usual.

 

[JianYang]

I always find the comparison shallow. Quinn Hughes #1 calling card is his skating. Everything stems from skating and decision making since his debut. Hutson has elite senses but without elite skating, that is the difference between a #1 and a second pairing guy with defensive warts you have to live with. Hutson will find his own niche, but the comparison is off the mark.

I see some similarities in playing with the puck. The way they both straddle the line to find open lanes or have enough poise to see things open up before delivering a puck to an open man.

Hughes has obviously refined his game since his rookie season to become one of the best but living on the west coast and seeing both these guys sort of regularly, I see the parallels.

 

[The Last Red]

He has the second most points of any NHL d-man ever 35 games into his career. Larry Murphy is first. What he’s doing so far is historic.

 

[Doom Bot]

He has the second most points of any NHL d-man ever 35 games into his career. Larry Murphy is first. What he’s doing so far is historic.

Assists not points

 

[The Last Red]

Assists not points

Okay. Still historic.

 

[cave troll]

Without him, Habs would be dead last in the league with the least amount of goals scored.
So far, kid is No1 in 2022 draft.

 

[Hostile Offer]

He's by no means a defensive stalwart but Hutson is actually doing fine in his own end. You would think playing with a seasoned veteran like Matheson would give him some coverage but it's actually Hutson who has to babysit Matheson on top of being a highlight reel machine offensively. This kid is already a huge net positive player and would look much better defensively with a better partner.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

He's by no means a defensive stalwart but Hutson is actually doing fine in his own end. You would think playing with a seasoned veteran like Matheson would give him some coverage but it's actually Hutson who has to babysit Matheson on top of being a highlight reel machine offensively. This kid is already a huge net positive player and would look much better defensively with a better partner.

I'm actually surprised they're putting him with Matheson. Matheson plays like an unbridled wild horse, totally chaotic. In Pittsburgh we usually had him on the third pairing with Ruhwedel or Marino babysitting him on the second pair. I liked him though, fun to watch.

 

[Hostile Offer]

I'm actually surprised they're putting him with Matheson. Matheson plays like an unbridled wild horse, totally chaotic. In Pittsburgh we usually had him on the third pairing with Ruhwedel or Marino babysitting him on the second pair. I liked him though, fun to watch.

The Hutson-Matheson pair is indeed absolutely wild but in all honesty there aren't any players on our roster who can take that #1RD spot. They tried Hutson with Savard, which is much more logical on paper, but Savard just isn't what he used to be anymore. At least Matheson is very good on transition so it's probably the best we can do for now although ideally he should be playing way less minutes.

 

[BullLund]

Laine played with some good ones too like Josh Morrissey and Dustin Bufyglien for example. But I agree that based on this small sample size, Hutson looks to be the most dynamic so far, he's pretty much running the whole thing, and making a lot of veterans look foolish.

 

[JianYang]

I'm actually surprised they're putting him with Matheson. Matheson plays like an unbridled wild horse, totally chaotic. In Pittsburgh we usually had him on the third pairing with Ruhwedel or Marino babysitting him on the second pair. I liked him though, fun to watch.

Matheson can be fun to watch, but he can also give heart attacks with some of his blunders.

I think hutson started the year with savard but he's just been pushing himself up the lineup as the season has progressed. It looks like he might have just taken matheson's spot on the top PP recently too.

Matheson isn't the ideal partner for him but the defense is full of inexperience aside from Matheson and savard. I don't think this pairing is a long term vision by any stretch but they are just trying to see what is the best they can do with what they currently have.

 

[Bouboumaster]

I'm actually surprised they're putting him with Matheson. Matheson plays like an unbridled wild horse, totally chaotic.

Lol, he haven't change one bit haha

 

[waitin425]

He has the second most points of any NHL d-man ever 35 games into his career. Larry Murphy is first. What he’s doing so far is historic.

And it follows historic level production at the NCAA level!

Anyone doubting this kid is delusional.

 

[SallyBalls]

Best defensive prospect since Makar?

Looks to be a generational talent.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

No denying this kid can put up points, I hope he can learn to take care of his own end well enough for nights that the puck isn't going in. Zero reason to think that will be an issue going forward though, he seems to learn the game at a very high level.

 

[japurple01]

Canucks fan here--I watched the two games last season Hutson played in and was struck by how similar some of his moves are to Hughes, especially the way he can walk the line. He's got a lot to learn, but the Habs aren't fighting to hang onto a playoff spot, and playing alongside NHL dmen--even if they have flaws--can teach him things. Plus he generates some electricity in the arena that Habs home games need. I know while I can watch any game that's on, I will often stop on the Habs game just to see what Hutson's up to. He will learn the defensive aspects of his game and be a fan favourite in Montreal for years to come.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Best defensive prospect since Makar?

Looks to be a generational talent.

Let’s let him become an average defensive player before he’s crowned as generational. Montreal is the worst defensive team in the league.