Player Discussion Lane Hutson Part 2

[Goldenhands]

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.”

Well I dont think thats silly, thats obviously an overstatement to point out how much work he needs on the defensive side of the game.

I mean, he struggles on many angles when it comes to his D game. Gap control, backward skating, 1 on 1 battles, losing track of his man, net front presence. There is alot of work to be done, you cant make the NHL on your offensive skills alone, especially when you are 5'9 or 5'10 and play defense.

He is an exciting player to watch, I like his offensive skills alot, but we will have to be patient and there is a good chance he ends up on a 3rd pairing, PP specialist, that would still be great given where he got picked.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Well I dont think thats silly, thats obviously an overstatement to point out how much work he needs on the defensive side of the game.

I mean, he struggles on many angles when it comes to his D game. Gap control, backward skating, 1 on 1 battles, losing track of his man, net front presence. There is alot of work to be done, you cant make the NHL on your offensive skills alone, especially when you are 5'9 or 5'10 and play defense.

He is an exciting player to watch, I like his offensive skills alot, but we will have to be patient and there is a good chance he ends up on a 3rd pairing, PP specialist, that would still be great given where he got picked.

I think it’d be fine to say he can’t move people in the crease or gets outmuscled sometimes. That’s always going to be a weakness. But when I read ‘he can’t defend’ and then that same poster goes on to complain that others think criticizing him is blasephemy then…. yeah it comes off as silly.

I don’t think I’ve seen anyone deny that he’s got some warts. The guy has some work to do and muscle to put on. And he’s always going to have some limitations… but I think the criticisms on a player like this sometimes go overboard in order to lower expectations.

Nobody knows for sure how his game is going to translate over. And he’ll have to add muscle. But I see guys writing him off as a 2nd pair PP specialist and it’s far too early to say that.

His vision is elite and he does things at the college level that only the truly elite can do. He’s an exciting prospect and right now looks like the steal of the draft.

 

[themilosh]

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.

I see him as a 3rd pairing guy with Xjackeye, and PP.. there is no way we are going to win a stanley cup with a 5'9" buck60 dman who isnt fast as your top pairing..

Great we got him at 60th, but 59 other teams passed on the project.. it's a headache having to "fit" him in to a d corps that are going to be punishing brutes. Hugo will trade him as part of a deal when the time is right.

 

[Whitesnake]

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.

I don't see him as 1st pair at all. At best 2nd pair and PP specialist. Which is perfectly fine for a 62nd pick. But that's at best. There's also that possibility to bust as well. But I put my money on making it no matter where than not making it at all.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I see him as a 3rd pairing guy with Xjackeye, and PP.. there is no way we are going to win a stanley cup with a 5'9" buck60 dman who isnt fast as your top pairing..

Great we got him at 60th, but 59 other teams passed on the project.. it's a headache having to "fit" him in to a d corps that are going to be punishing brutes. Hugo will trade him as part of a deal when the time is right.

I don't see him as 1st pair at all. At best 2nd pair and PP specialist. Which is perfectly fine for a 62nd pick. But that's at best. There's also that possibility to bust as well. But I put my money on making it no matter where than not making it at all.

Tough crowd.

Guess we’ll see in a couple of years.

 

[BaseballCoach]

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.

He's terrible defensively. Victor Mete level terrible, Worse actually since Mete can skate backwards.

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.

As slow as Subban was straight-line, Hutson is slower. Subban had elite edgework, better than Hutson's. Hutson's claim to fame is these amazing stats in the NCAA, but actually there are others both last year and this year who are doing roughly as well without the huge red flags.

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

LOL, that made Subban slower.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

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

He is the player that I have suggested trading as well as we are loaded at LD and his value might be high with a GM who might be willing to give us a very good forward prospect or perhaps a top 4 projected RD prospect.

This is not to say that I think he is guaranteed to be a sheltered pp specialist but I think that is his most probable role as a future NHLer. If we are going to trade one of our young dmen then we might as well trade the one with the most risk but still holds alot of potential value. No way we are trading Guhle or Reinbacher and the rest of our prospects are very good but may not have enough shine on them to entice a GM into giving up something of real value.

If Buffalo were interested and were willing to trade Strbak+ for him I would be tempted to jump on that tbh. Stat heads won't like it but they didn't like Struble either. Just an idea that popped in my head, likely because I really wanted Strbak this past draft much like I wanted Luneau in the prior draft.

Now I assume the crash position and wait for the mob to show up.....

 

[themilosh]

He is the player that I have suggested trading as well as we are loaded at LD and his value might be high with a GM who might be willing to give us a very good forward prospect or perhaps a top 4 projected RD prospect.

This is not to say that I think he is guaranteed to be a sheltered pp specialist but I think that is his most probable role as a future NHLer. If we are going to trade one of our young dmen then we might as well trade the one with the most risk but still holds alot of potential value. No way we are trading Guhle or Reinbacher and the rest of our prospects are very good but may not have enough shine on them to entice a GM into giving up something of real value.

If Buffalo were interested and were willing to trade Strbak+ for him I would be tempted to jump on that tbh. Stat heads won't like it but they didn't like Struble either. Just an idea that popped in my head, likely because I really wanted Strbak this past draft much like I wanted Luneau in the prior draft.

Now I assume the crash position and wait for the mob to show up.....

I think Buffalo is an ideal fit for Hutson.. as a secondary puck mover after Dahlen.. pair him up with Powers and that could work.

I'd trade Mesar + Hutson for Kulich.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

I think Buffalo is an ideal fit for Hutson.. as a secondary puck mover after Dahlen.. pair him up with Powers and that could work.

I'd trade Mesar + Hutson for Kulich.

Mesar and Hutson for Kulich and Strbak

 

[Goldenhands]

I think it’d be fine to say he can’t move people in the crease or gets outmuscled sometimes. That’s always going to be a weakness. But when I read ‘he can’t defend’ and then that same poster goes on to complain that others think criticizing him is blasephemy then…. yeah it comes off as silly.

I don’t think I’ve seen anyone deny that he’s got some warts. The guy has some work to do and muscle to put on. And he’s always going to have some limitations… but I think the criticisms on a player like this sometimes go overboard in order to lower expectations.

Nobody knows for sure how his game is going to translate over. And he’ll have to add muscle. But I see guys writing him off as a 2nd pair PP specialist and it’s far too early to say that.

His vision is elite and he does things at the college level that only the truly elite can do. He’s an exciting prospect and right now looks like the steal of the draft.

I think thats Engstrom personally, but Hutson remains a great pick as well.

Im more excited to watch Engstrom with Laval when his season ends.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

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.

He is an enormous liability when the puck is not on his stick in all areas of the dzone. I didn't watch today's game but have been singing the same tune since before we drafted him. He still has some exciting abilities and alot of development ahead of him but you really have to squint to see him as anything other than a pp specialist.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I think thats Engstrom personally, but Hutson remains a great pick as well.

Im more excited to watch Engstrom with Laval when his season ends.

We’ll see. The way Hutson plays in College is off the hook. Putting on 20 lbs would really help but I think that will take a couple of years. 20lbs isn’t going to make him bulky or slow him down either- those concerns are misplaced.

Tempered expectations are fine but I’m still bullish.

 

[417]

He is an enormous liability when the puck is not on his stick in all areas of the dzone. I didn't watch today's game but have been singing the same tune since before we drafted him. He still has some exciting abilities and alot of development ahead of him but you really have to squint to see him as anything other than a pp specialist.

Perhaps that's the case, I haven't watched him enough to really have an opinion, but one thing he has going for him is time to round out his game.

 

[Favster]

This thread is exactly why I mostly stay away from this site now. Unreal some of the crap you guys say it's embarassing lol

 

[WeThreeKings]

Only in Montreal would we watch Matheson run our PP1 and then want to trade Hutson for an iteration of the 15 other defense prospects we have on the team and in the system.

 

[sampollock]

Only in Montreal would we watch Matheson run our PP1 and then want to trade Hutson for an iteration of the 15 other defense prospects we have on the team and in the system.

yup... no way Hudson is going anywhere.

 

[DAChampion]

LOL, that made Subban slower.

Subban's bodybuilding was discussed on here at the time. It seemed he was more interested in gaining mass than in being a better athlete.

 

[badfish]

If he's a 3rd pairing PP specialist that could have a pretty significant impact on the team. Habs currently average around 3.5 powerplay opportunities per game. If he can bring the Habs pp from the basement to top third in the league, around 25%, that's a lot more goals.

3.5 pp/game x (25% conversion - 17% current conversion) x 82 games = ~23 more goals a year.

For what it's worth though I think he figures out a role that is more than a PP specialist. All his coaches say he has an interest in improving his defense and having the right attitude/commitment is half the battle. Spurgeon is similar size, plays 25 mins a night and over time has had a great +/- on the wild (lead the wild last season for example with +32).

 

[Tyson]

If he's a 3rd pairing PP specialist that could have a pretty significant impact on the team. Habs currently average around 3.5 powerplay opportunities per game. If he can bring the Habs pp from the basement to top third in the league, around 25%, that's a lot more goals.

3.5 pp/game x (25% conversion - 17% current conversion) x 82 games = ~23 more goals a year.

For what it's worth though I think he figures out a role that is more than a PP specialist. All his coaches say he has an interest in improving his defense and having the right attitude/commitment is half the battle. Spurgeon is similar size, plays 25 mins a night and over time has had a great +/- on the wild (lead the wild last season for example with +32).

Spurgeon plays 25 minutes per game but is nothing special. Wild will never win a championship with a pint sized D playing four 7 games series.

 

[DAChampion]

How'd he do at the WJCs?

 

[WeThreeKings]

Quinn Hughes at the U20 WJCs played 14 games over 2 competitions and had 5 assists.

 

[DAChampion]

Quinn Hughes at the U20 WJCs played 14 games over 2 competitions and had 5 assists.

How did Hutson do?

 

[badfish]

Spurgeon plays 25 minutes per game but is nothing special. Wild will never win a championship with a pint sized D playing four 7 games series.

I watched a decent amount of Spurgeon prior to the pandemic when I was living out west. Spurgeon was not the problem on those teams. Spurgeon was a good, but not necessarily flashy player between 2015-2020. Minnesota's problems then were similar to Montreal. Their team as built with a formidable defense (top-4 of Suter, Spurgeon, Brodin and Dumba), and good goaltending (Dubnyk had good years), but their offense was thin. Their top-scoring forwards were often over the hill veterans who put up 50-70 points per year (sound familiar?).

 

[McGuires Corndog]

Spurgeon plays 25 minutes per game but is nothing special. Wild will never win a championship with a pint sized D playing four 7 games series.

The flip side to this is that with the other D prospects in our system, we don’t need Hutson to be minute cruncher.

He can be a 18min third pairing guy that gets PP1 time.

We have the luxury to let him develop and see where it goes.

 

[Sam de Mtl]

I'm happy taking a chance on Hutson going forward rather than trade him for a mildly exciting prospect, which we have a lot of.

I am in the sceptical crowd when it comes to Hutson, but with the depth in the system, I will take a 10% chance at greatness over a 60% chance at pretty good.

Not because it's more valuable, but because we have enough of the latter, especially at defense.