Lane Hutson Burgeoning Star Watch

[Oak]

I'm shocked MSL is allowing this to happen. Many players would look good if they were given the green light to try to dangle all day with zero effort defensively. It's not like he's producing either, he only has 1 point in his last 7 games despite averaging 24-25 mins a game.

Marty has a soft spot for little guys coming into the show, and he has the green light to dangle because this is the way he's played his entire career. He was never really a system player or reliable in his own zone. He's letting the kid do what he is good at. Maybe it'll work out? What else can Marty do?

 

[Bileur]

Marty has a soft spot for little guys coming into the show, and he has the green light to dangle because this is the way he's played his entire career. He was never really a system player or reliable in his own zone. He's letting the kid do what he is good at. Maybe it'll work out? What else can Marty do?

You have to take the good with the bad with a guy like this. Try to develop him to limit the bad without taking away the good.

If you're going to neuter him offensively and leave him in the AHL to work on boxing guys out you might as well not draft him.

 

[bud12]

I'm shocked MSL is allowing this to happen. Many players would look good if they were given the green light to try to dangle all day with zero effort defensively. It's not like he's producing either, he only has 1 point in his last 7 games despite averaging 24-25 mins a game.

He's not producing in those last games because he's snakebitten. 2 post and multiple high danger chance.Msl use him 24/25 min a night for a reason...... showing one sequence in a blowout game doesn't tell the whole picture. In fact, the kid was a beast defensively again Stl and Philly

 

[MoneyManny]

These two videos back to back are a good example of why teammates probably aren't gonna like the guy. You're a defender in the NHL. Trying to one-man show everything is not going to get you very far. The turnovers leading to goals against are adding up. I wonder why Montreal has such atrocious defensive stats...

So you see Hutson clowning grown men in the NHL like they were children over and over again and your deduction is that he needs to handle the puck LESS?

 

[StreetHawk]

I'm shocked MSL is allowing this to happen. Many players would look good if they were given the green light to try to dangle all day with zero effort defensively. It's not like he's producing either, he only has 1 point in his last 7 games despite averaging 24-25 mins a game.

Watching that play. There were 4 Habs below the faceoff Dot. No one covered for Hutson when he went down low. It’s a 4-0 game so structure appeared out the door with the players on the ice.

That’s bad. Either it’s poor coaching or the players said screw structure for the remaining 50 minutes once they were down 4-0.

 

[MrNasty]

So people are searching for bad plays to post on here? The kid is already playing top minutes as a 20 year old. Pretty much unheard of as a defenseman.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Watching that play. There were 4 Habs below the faceoff Dot. No one covered for Hutson when he went down low. It’s a 4-0 game so structure appeared out the door with the players on the ice.

That’s bad. Either it’s poor coaching or the players said screw structure for the remaining 50 minutes once they were down 4-0.

There is never any structure lol coaching is non existent right now in Montreal

 

[mphmiles]

Some interesting things to note statistically:

-Through 10 games, Hutson has the lowest 5v5 expected goals allowed per 60 of any defenseman on Montreal.
-His expected goals for per 60 is also actually relatively low compared to the rest of Montreal's team

Thus far, it certainly seems like neither those who expected him to crumple defensively, or come in and immediately dominate offensively were correct.

 

[mphmiles]

Also related: The guy who's really struggled defensively and just got sent down for it is the 6 foot 3 Mailloux

https://x.com/i/web/status/1851685933248098616

There needs to be a sign to tap somewhere that just says "Size =/= defensive ability"

 

[Sting]

So you see Hutson clowning grown men in the NHL like they were children over and over again and your deduction is that he needs to handle the puck LESS?

He has zero goals. 5 assists. -5. I get the guy is 20 but part of the learning process is probably going to be learning to pick your spots. Pretending you're a forward and not getting back to cover odd-man rushes is not a great way to win hockey games. Check out Karlsson videos pre-Cook slice. Any time he tried that stuff he was the first guy back.

 

[Peasy]

Montreal desperately needs a legit NHL coach. These kids are just going to develop bad habits that will be much more difficult to remove further down the line.

 

[JianYang]

Montreal desperately needs a legit NHL coach. These kids are just going to develop bad habits that will be much more difficult to remove further down the

The Habs are prioritizing to just let the kids play and take the bumps with the 2 points not being the primary concern.

This is in contrast to pretty much any other era in their history where structure was key and 2 points were the primary goal where mistakes by a youngster would get you glued to the bench.

The extent of youth and inexperience that the Habs have gone with in the last couple years is unprecedented, I think. It will be interesting over the long run to see how the experiment pans out.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Montreal desperately needs a legit NHL coach. These kids are just going to develop bad habits that will be much more difficult to remove further down the line.

Agree 100%

 

[NyQuil]

He’s a rookie offensive defenseman playing on a bottom 3 team, mistakes are going to happen. A dozen games in and he’s already clearly one of the most talented offensive defensemen in the NHL.

It’s actually hilarious to watch Senators fans continuously bash this player. I’m sure if he didn’t make a few turnovers this year then Montreal could be as successful as the Ottawa Senators who have never won a Stanley Cup in franchise history.

You guys trashed Karlsson every season.

Now it’s Hutson in the Super NHL.

The irony is *chef’s kiss*

 

[Sasha Orlov]

You guys trashed Karlsson every season.

Now it’s Hutson in the Super NHL.

The irony is *chef’s kiss*

So now you too are comparing him to Karlsson, nice

 

[Frank Drebin]

He has zero goals. 5 assists. -5. I get the guy is 20 but part of the learning process is probably going to be learning to pick your spots. Pretending you're a forward and not getting back to cover odd-man rushes is not a great way to win hockey games. Check out Karlsson videos pre-Cook slice. Any time he tried that stuff he was the first guy back.

plus his teammates probably don't like him

You guys trashed Karlsson every season.

Now it’s Hutson in the Super NHL.

The irony is *chef’s kiss*

Karlsson was my favourite dman for years. I'm sure I'm not the only Habs fan that felt that way.

I honestly dont get this Ottawa-Montreal fan thing. Maybe you have to live out east to understand.

 

[hamzarocks]

He is built to be the D-man that you acquire a better player than and win a cup.

Perfect #2D if you can acquire a two-way big and physical D-man to play the tough defensive matchups

His defense will never be good but his offense in current scoring league should be 65-75 pt good.

 

[NyQuil]

So now you too are comparing him to Karlsson, nice

They are both offensive defencemen. It's not that difficult to fathom.

He'll get a lot of rope right now because the team isn't exactly trying too hard to make the playoffs.

He is built to be the D-man that you acquire a better player than and win a cup.

Perfect #2D if you can acquire a two-way big and physical D-man to play the tough defensive matchups

His defense will never be good but his offense in current scoring league should be 65-75 pt good.

He's played a handful of games. It's a bit premature don't you think to write him off?

Plenty of offensive defencemen have won Cups. Plenty of them went on to become more well-rounded, particularly as they gain years and years of experience.

By the time Sergei Gonchar (a one-dimensional guy) played with us, he was a terrific two-way defenceman. He was the MVP of the team the year they lost Spezza, Karlsson and Anderson to injury and the Pesky Sens made the playoffs anyway.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

They are both offensive defencemen. It's not that difficult to fathom.

Agreed entirely, both are elite offensive defensemen with poor defensive acumen

 

[hamzarocks]

They are both offensive defencemen. It's not that difficult to fathom.



He's played a handful of games. It's a bit premature don't you think to write him off?

Its not writing him off

His playstyle and physical build is similar to a Morgan Rielly, Torey Krug type player.

Both guys are/were great #2Ds for playoff teams.

Hutson has great offensive instincts and tools.

His biggest issue is his body/physical traits. He is 5'9 and ~160-165

Other elite (HHOF) d-man who were more offensively inclined like letang or Karlsson were both 6'0 and 185-195 lbs.

Big size difference which allowed them to play more top end minutes and absorbd hard forechecks.

Hutson could end up being an outlier and his size may not end of mattering, but it is a disadvantage currently that poses questions on his LT max potential

 

[StreetHawk]

The Habs are prioritizing to just let the kids play and take the bumps with the 2 points not being the primary concern.

This is in contrast to pretty much any other era in their history where structure was key and 2 points were the primary goal where mistakes by a youngster would get you glued to the bench.

The extent of youth and inexperience that the Habs have gone with in the last couple years is unprecedented, I think. It will be interesting over the long run to see how the experiment pans out.

I think Hughes is running too many inexperienced Dmen going into this season.

So, will see if and or how many of these young Dmen actually develop in this environment. And how well they do develop.

 

[mphmiles]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1852024843597701172

 

[CowbellConray]

It will be interesting to see how to fairs after a season or two in the league. Teams and players will adapt to his style, so he will need to continue to evolve - which sometimes is more challenging with a slight frame.

Good luck to him

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

These two videos back to back are a good example of why teammates probably aren't gonna like the guy. You're a defender in the NHL. Trying to one-man show everything is not going to get you very far. The turnovers leading to goals against are adding up. I wonder why Montreal has such atrocious defensive stats...

David Savard has double Hutson's minus stat, even though Hutson is used far more at ES.