Player Discussion Lane Hutson Part 2

[WeThreeKings]

Mondial junior : le jeu défensif de Lane Hutson lui vaut des éloges | RDS

« Depuis que je travaille avec lui au quotidien, je me dis que les gens devraient probablement parler davantage de ses prouesses défensives ».

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Lane Hutson’s defensive play grabbing the headlines at the world juniors.

Honestly I think his defensive game is fine but when he messes up, it's usually a big mess up. That sticks in minds more than the 20 other minutes of hockey done well.

 

[admiralcadillac]

Honestly I think his defensive game is fine but when he messes up, it's usually a big mess up. That sticks in minds more than the 20 other minutes of hockey done well.

It’s also a gripe that can be honed in on because he doesn’t have many others. Sore points are easily identified and as you said it sticks in the mind.

 

[MoneyManny]

Completely different leagues. Playing against bigger players in NCAA is not the same as playing against MEN that are more physically mature.

And Caufield is a winger. It's not a fair comparison for Huston since he's D. Size is more important on D than it is on wing.

I understand that viewpoint man i do, but all the information we ever have on prospects are what they've shown with their league play, tournament play, etc... No matter if it's the 1st OA or a 6th round noname pick.

And all we have on Hutson is him dominating! I get the reserve but it's not like the expectations are for him to take a STEP UP in the NHL, all we need him to do is to keep being who he is right now. I don't think anything else really matters. If he's found a way to be this good at his height i have no logical reason to believe he won't keep finding his way. Just like a constant on a graphic.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Honestly I think his defensive game is fine but when he messes up, it's usually a big mess up. That sticks in minds more than the 20 other minutes of hockey done well.

Plus he's a habs' prospect and fans are making outrages statements, so any error is brought up.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Honestly I think his defensive game is fine but when he messes up, it's usually a big mess up. That sticks in minds more than the 20 other minutes of hockey done well.

It’s a lot like Subban. Tries to do too much and loses the puck - sometimes in spectacular ways.

The big difference between Subban and Hutson though was that Subban had a physical game and could actually clear the crease when needed. That’ll always be a limitation.

But he’s not useless defensively as some have suggested he is.

 

[montreal]

 

[ReHabs]

We don't need Hutson to show us anything he's not already showing us to be a great player, think about it.

If you think his current opposition is as good as his NHL opposition I don't know what to tell ya.

 

[Redux91]

It’s a lot like Subban. Tries to do too much and loses the puck - sometimes in spectacular ways.

Yeah it's just how it is with playmakers and guys who are puck magnets

You touch the puck a lot lol

Reminds me of that time sportsnet posted Subban was top3 in the league in giveaways, and the other 2 names were Drew Doughty and Erik Karlsson lol

 

[Gustave]

Yeah it's just how it is with playmakers and guys who are puck magnets

You touch the puck a lot lol

Reminds me of that time sportsnet posted Subban was top3 in the league in giveaways, and the other 2 names were Drew Doughty and Erik Karlsson lol

There is some truth here. Let's tell it like it is; he's not "paid" to keep it a low risk game, he's expected to provide an O spark, in not so big supply btw in pipeline, on Habs land.

So if Eddy or Chiarot top that list of giveaways... yoy can throw them away as far as you can from the team. LH will provide more than that stat can show. I'm NOT expecting a stalwart Dman when he becomes a pro, I expect a PP specialist than can slot in on a second pairing with a rock dman.

 

[TheBuriedHab]

Yeah it's just how it is with playmakers and guys who are puck magnets

You touch the puck a lot lol

Reminds me of that time sportsnet posted Subban was top3 in the league in giveaways, and the other 2 names were Drew Doughty and Erik Karlsson lol

When Steve Nash won MVP in the NBA he lead the league in turnovers.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

IDK. I believe the problem with fan scouting is a lot of us have a tendency to imagine skills that our prospects have never even shown in reality. Poehling for example wasn't even that good in the NCAA and people here expected him to magically become a 2nd liner in the NHL.

In the same fashion we can't ever expect Hutson to be good defensively. If it happens great, but it probably won't. But if he can just keep being who he already is i think he can be an electrifying and unique NHL player. And i think that's a decently safe bet as far as hockey prospects go what do you think?

There is no debate that he is unique and that his puck skills and vision are elite but if he can't defend at the NHL he will be a pp specialist at best and maybe not even be an NHLer. I have always seen him as a long term prospect due to his considerable skating/size/strength issues and I have yet to see any evidence that would cause me to change my opinion on the matter. He is well into his D+2 and has not fixed his back skating, is still too slow for his size and has barely put on any weight. I think that Laval is the best place for him where he won't be coddled like he is in college where nobody seems to want to force him to address these issues.

I think people calling him a future star and people writing him off are both victims of their own hyperbole. He is uniquely talented, uniquely built and uniquely flawed so anyone trying to claim that they are certain of anything are as f.o.s. as the agendas that they are pushing.

I choose to just watch him play and remain objective while having to suffer the abuse from those who see what they want rather than see what is actually there.

 

[Skip Bayless]

I missed the game, but watching the highlights provided by @montreal, I do feel he had a good game.

I liked his touches, not too over complicated. And his anticipation can make up for some of his skating deficiencies while tracking back.

He's still a scrawny itty little bitty boy though.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

When Steve Nash won MVP in the NBA he lead the league in turnovers.

Pass first point guard always lead the league in turnovers.....the difference is that PG is the among the least important defenders on the floor in the NBA which can not be said about NHL dmen.

 

[TheBuriedHab]

Pass first point guard always lead the league in turnovers.....the difference is that PG is the among the least important defenders on the floor in the NBA which can not be said about NHL dmen.

Doesn't change the fact that the best offensive defenseman of our generation average over a turnover a game. And if you don't watch non habs hockey, Andrei Markov averaged over a turnover a game over his career.

Even stay at home defenseman like Chara had 1342 turnovers in 1596 games.

 

[admiralcadillac]

Doesn't change the fact that the best offensive defenseman of our generation average over a turnover a game. And if you don't watch non habs hockey, Andrei Markov averaged over a turnover a game over his career.

Even stay at home defenseman like Chara had 1342 turnovers in 1596 games.

It tends to happen when you play 22+ minutes a game

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Doesn't change the fact that the best offensive defenseman of our generation average over a turnover a game. And if you don't watch non habs hockey, Andrei Markov averaged over a turnover a game over his career.

Even stay at home defenseman like Chara had 1342 turnovers in 1596 games.

Like I was implying......what does it matter.

I never brought up turnovers as the stat is a stupid stat that counts all sorts of plays as turnovers that are very benign. I would say that I would be concerned about Hutson turning the puck over at the blueline because he doesn't have the speed to catch anybody whereas we have all seen Matheson, Karlsson, Makar etc catch guys who get past them. This is why Markov wasn't brought back as he was an enormous liability at the end as he was easily the slowest skater in the league in his final season and even though he was still effective on the powerplay you were terrified that he would turn it over which he did far too often that season and gave up long, uncontested breakaways.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I missed the game, but watching the highlights provided by @montreal, I do feel he had a good game.

I liked his touches, not too over complicated. And his anticipation can make up for some of his skating deficiencies while tracking back.

He's still a scrawny itty little bitty boy though.

He’s still growing. He’s grown an inch or two since we drafted him. That makes it harder for him to put on weight. That’s why it’ll be at least 25-26 before he’s in the lineup.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Pass first point guard always lead the league in turnovers.....the difference is that PG is the among the least important defenders on the floor in the NBA which can not be said about NHL dmen.

Doesn’t matter. First, giveaways/takeaway stats are counted radically differently from arena to arena and can’t really be trusted for the most part.

It’s also not surprising that puck carrying defenders would be the highest in giveaway numbers regardless. They always have the puck.

Like I was implying......what does it matter.

I never brought up turnovers as the stat is a stupid stat that counts all sorts of plays as turnovers that are very benign. I would say that I would be concerned about Hutson turning the puck over at the blueline because he doesn't have the speed to catch anybody whereas we have all seen Matheson, Karlsson, Makar etc catch guys who get past them. This is why Markov wasn't brought back as he was an enormous liability at the end as he was easily the slowest skater in the league in his final season and even though he was still effective on the powerplay you were terrified that he would turn it over which he did far too often that season and gave up long, uncontested breakaways.

Hutson may not be the fastest guy in the league but he’s hardly the slowest. Again, thanks to the clips @montreal has given I’ve seen numerous times where he’s caught up to guys. He’s not nearly as bad as you’re painting him to be.

 

[Habs]

PK Hutson worries me a bit

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

PK Hutson worries me a bit

If it makes you feel better, I’ve seen some giveaways from him but nothing as spectacular as Subban. Subban definitely liked to hotdog.

 

[Skip Bayless]

He’s still growing. He’s grown an inch or two since we drafted him. That makes it harder for him to put on weight. That’s why it’ll be at least 25-26 before he’s in the lineup.

I agree.

I think he needs two years in Laval if he's ever gonna make it.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I agree.

I think he needs two years in Laval if he's ever gonna make it.

I just can’t see him busting out. He’s got too much skill. He looks like Bobby Orr in college.

Will he look like that in the NHL? No. But I think he’s too good not to make the show. Still think he’s a number one who’ll be paired with a solid two way big partner. But none of this happens before he gains 15-20 pounds. He’s flat out not ready for the NHL right now.

We will see.

 

[TheBuriedHab]

Like I was implying......what does it matter.

I never brought up turnovers as the stat is a stupid stat that counts all sorts of plays as turnovers that are very benign. I would say that I would be concerned about Hutson turning the puck over at the blueline because he doesn't have the speed to catch anybody whereas we have all seen Matheson, Karlsson, Makar etc catch guys who get past them. This is why Markov wasn't brought back as he was an enormous liability at the end as he was easily the slowest skater in the league in his final season and even though he was still effective on the powerplay you were terrified that he would turn it over which he did far too often that season and gave up long, uncontested breakaways.

Yep, All I'm saying is players that have the puck a lot will just naturally have more turnovers usually.

Whether Lane will be able to make those mistakes at the NHL level is the big question, because like you said, he doesn't have the physical tools that would help him erase a lot of those mistakes.

What he does have is an incredible mind for the game. We will see if that is enough for him to survive/thrive in the NHL.

 

[JianYang]

When Steve Nash won MVP in the NBA he lead the league in turnovers.

He was a point guard and he passed the ball alot.... he was unselfish to a fault, because he could shoot the ball too. He wasn't one to make dumb or careless turnovers.

Those teams with the Nash engine were ahead of their time. The NBA wasn't ready for it yet.

 

[Shred]

Not getting points isn't the issue.

Can’t even count the number of times I have seen Lane Hutson score a late game-tying or overtime goal, even after playing 30+ minutes that night. He’s focused when it counts, who cares what he does when his team has an 8 goal lead? If anything it shows he is there to win and not pad his stats.