Player Discussion Lane Hutson Part 2

[Maitz]

I am not worried about production in a 11 goal game, if he is playing great in a 3-2 semifinal or final I will be happy.

 

[Zilo44]

What the hell happenned to Hutson. I thought he would get like 6 points in a game like that.

Poehling put up 4 goals on Kazakstan or Ukraine or something like than.

These blowout games mean nothing. Gimme a good showing in the knockout stage instead

 

[Team_Spirit]

Poehling put up 4 goals on Kazakstan or Ukraine or something like than.

These blowout games mean nothing. Gimme a good showing in the knockout stage instead

It was The Toronto Maple Leafs but close enough lmao

 

[Whitesnake]

Wow can't believe that a 5'8 62nd overall pick isn't a perfect player with no weaknesses, thanks for letting us know guys

It's all about expectations. The day that you have him as the No1 prospect of your team, you expect him to shine all over, everytime he can. And you also expect him to be able to do the same in the pros. Nobody plays the prospect pool game without having in mind how they'll translate in pros.

I will stand by my take on things......we are AGAIN overrating our prospect pool big time. And that is only by looking at it on its own. Prospect pool in its entirety takes more a beating when you start comparing with other teams. NOT in quantity. But clearly in quality.

We have more chance to shine as a team by hoping Hughes can translate value from prospects into real good hockey players. Something he did with Romanov.

 

[themilosh]

BU certainly aren't going to do that and there is no way Montreal would even dream of mentioning that to an unsigned NCAA star dman.

If that ever happens it will be well in the future but he may not be effective as a winger as his lack of size and speed are far from ideal. Lane relies on having open ice in front of him in a similar way that P.K. did as neither player was a strong north/south skater but look alot faster skating past stagnant forwards in the neutral zone where they can use their amazing stick skills, deception and elusiveness to gain the offensive zone with time and space. Wingers have to contend with defenders who are skating hard in the neutral zone where they will be caught and neutralized if they are not fast enough before they can gain the offensive zone. This is where he would really struggle as well as in board battles or fighting for loose pucks in front of the net. He also relies on traffic to make his shot dangerous but as a winger he will be of little threat off of the rush with his shot where goaltenders will get a good look at him.

His fans always focus on his size and if he is getting bigger but that is a waste of time imo because he will always be a small player. Gaining more speed and fixing his backskating are the real keys to his success. He may have the skinniest legs I have ever seen on a player so close to the NHL so he has alot of work to do on his lower body and his butt if he wants to realize his highest NHL ceiling.

I just don't see the big fuss over this guy? So many red flags, and can only be used in sheltered situations.. meh, his capital is high - i'd love to trade him now for a "zegras" type young C

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

It's all about expectations. The day that you have him as the No1 prospect of your team, you expect him to shine all over, everytime he can. And you also expect him to be able to do the same in the pros. Nobody plays the prospect pool game without having in mind how they'll translate in pros.

I will stand by my take on things......we are AGAIN overrating our prospect pool big time. And that is only by looking at it on its own. Prospect pool in its entirety takes more a beating when you start comparing with other teams. NOT in quantity. But clearly in quality.

We have more chance to shine as a team by hoping Hughes can translate value from prospects into real good hockey players. Something he did with Romanov.

Would love to hear your thoughts on Hutson. In your opinion is he a first pairing guy in waiting or is he going to be a 2nd pair PP specialist or does he bust altogether?

To me he looks like a first pairing guy but you’ll need to pair him with a more defensively minded big partner. The potential for stardom is there but not a certainty. I don’t think he’s as ‘terrible’ defensively as some of his critics here have said. But he’ll certainly be limited in certain things.

I’ve also seen shades of Subban in his game. Electric player with the puck who will occasionally try to do too much and lose the puck. But that’s true of most offensive defenseman.

Most obviously of course is that he needs to gain some muscle.

 

[Balthazar]

Nothing happened to him. He's still the same player, he just didn't get any points.

Not getting points isn't the issue.

 

[Naslundforever]

If what you say is true, why do you want him to try a few games with the Habs. It's HuGo's job to have the good evaluation of where Hutson is. The muscle bulding needs to be done next year in the NCAA, same for improvements in his skating. Habs have the chance that Hutson is in the NCAA, not the CHL. If four years in the NCAA were good for Harris and Struble, how three years for Hutson would not be mandatory. There is no need to turn pro for him next year. He should do what his best for his career. Lane and his family should ask to stay in the NCAA, like Jordan Harris did. Sometimes players and their family need to be wiser than NHL GMs.

Because unless they are in a playoff spot it’ll be good experience and a great reference point. I also think he can play d1 on an nhl powerplay and make it better, he’s the best D in college at it. From there I’m willing to be patient and bet ahl and nhl coaches are as good as ncaa ones.

 

[417]

Not getting points isn't the issue.

It's a single isolated play, in a game that was out of hand...

I haven't watched or paid much attention to his game in the NCAA this season.

Is this a recurring issue?

I assume not, since he wouldn't be on the team if that was the case.

So no, not a big deal...at least not for me.

P.S. the caption is hilarious and perfectly encapsulates why I rarely watch the WJCs anymore...every shift turns into a scouting referendum on players.

 

[Balthazar]

It's a single isolated play, in a game that was out of hand...

I haven't watched or paid much attention to his game in the NCAA this season.

Is this a recurring issue?

I assume not, since he wouldn't be on the team if that was the case.

So no, not a big deal...at least not for me.

Tournament isn't over yet so let's wait before drawing conclusions. However, right now he's not producing offensively AND he gets overwhelmed defensively.

 

[417]

Tournament isn't over yet so let's wait before drawing conclusions. However, right now he's not producing offensively AND he gets overwhelmed defensively.

I promise you, I will not draw ANY conclusions whenever this tournament ends.

Whether good or bad.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Not getting points isn't the issue.

Meh…

When I saw the headline I thought it’d be God awful play where he got clowned.

I wouldn’t call that atrocious. He lost coverage- happens in every game to every blueliner. Is it good? No. But crease defending is never going to be his strength.

 

[Andy]

The skating isn’t as bad as people make it out to be, but I don’t think it’s at the level for him to be an elite star ala Quinn Hughes. It’s not so much quickness as it is fluidity

He doesn’t look that small to be honest, he just needs to fill out a little more. He’s thin, but he has a decent frame for a player that is 5’9.

The potential is there though. For me it’s all about the skating on whether he will be an elite player and the strength on whether he’ll be an effective nhl d man or just a specialist

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Tournament isn't over yet so let's wait before drawing conclusions. However, right now he's not producing offensively AND he gets overwhelmed defensively.

He produced against Canada…

 

[tazsub3]

It was The Toronto Maple Leafs but close enough lmao

It’s not his fault he thought it was against bad competition , but seems was against a worst then a bad one )

 

[417]

Meh…

When I saw the headline I thought it’d be God awful play where he got clowned.

I wouldn’t call that atrocious. He lost coverage- happens in every game to every blueliner. Is it good? No. But crease defending is never going to be his strength.

Seriously...does anyone think that anything that happens at this tournament carries over to player's games once they reach the NHL in 2-3-4 years from now. Even after all this time?

Brad Isbister looked like the next Cam Neely at the WJC way back...

Just enjoy the tournament man lol

 

[SlafySZN]

Tournament isn't over yet so let's wait before drawing conclusions. However, right now he's not producing offensively AND he gets overwhelmed defensively.

His coach said he is impressed by him defensively. I tend to be more confident in what is said by his coach than people here. He doesn’t judge him on one single play that happens to every dman ever lol.

 

[Zilo44]

It was The Toronto Maple Leafs but close enough lmao

I’m not talking about that. I’m refering to his stat padding opening game on the WJC where he was a first team all pro

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

He cannot defend , i think he still makes it to the show but he's gonna have to get better.

Its crazy how people take this as blasphemy over here but he's going to get manhandled at the NHL lvl let's see how he adjusts to the pro game.

 

[Rob Sense]

I remember when Suzuki had a meh WJC.

 

[417]

He cannot defend , i think he still makes it to the show but he's gonna have to get better.

Everyone at this tournament will.

Water is wet.

Its crazy how people take this as blasphemy over here but he's going to get manhandled at the NHL lvl let's see how he adjusts to the pro game.

No whats crazy is how people take snapshots of current moments and extrapolate them for careers. As though defending wasn't something we’ve all known he will have to get better at.

Even if he came to this tournament and played defense like Ray Bourque, he would still have to continue to get better at it.

Do y’all just sit back and enjoy games anymore?

 

[Film Noir]

His coach said he is impressed by him defensively. I tend to be more confident in what is said by his coach than people here. He doesn’t judge him on one single play that happens to every dman ever lol.

You're impressed by something his coach said to the media? I'm sorry to tell you this but you are impressed by P.R.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He cannot defend , i think he still makes it to the show but he's gonna have to get better.

Its crazy how people take this as blasphemy over here but he's going to get manhandled at the NHL lvl let's see how he adjusts to the pro game.

I don’t think it’s blasphemy to doubt him or point out his weaknesses. But I think it’s silly when you start your post with: “He can’t defend.”

 

[jrom]

KK also remembers getting rocked by Zadorov and Eller … and an other Goon clipped him with an elbow at center ice. Can’t remember that scrub’s name tho. #97, played for the oilers.

Anyway, the AHL was more physical 15 years ago. That won’t be a concern now.

Not saying that Hutson shouldn’t be sent to the AHL but there’s more cheap shots and dubious goons there then in the NHL (and the NHL was more physical also 15yr ago).

 

[SlafySZN]

You're impressed by something his coach said to the media? I'm sorry to tell you this but you are impressed by P.R.

I also bet it’s for PR that he puts him on the PK.

He wasn’t propping up his players, he was talking about the role he had for Lane or others. And i never said i was ‘’impressed’’ i said i’m more confident about what his coach (who’s been seeing and coaching him) has to say + my eye test than people overreacting on this board.