Player Discussion Lane Hutson Part 2

[WeThreeKings]

Meh, Letang is often injured too. A couple of examples are not enough for me, and it is hard to compare the two when there is a 40 lbs difference. I know he has been doing this his entire life, but NHL playoffs are a different beast. He's going to be targeted. I still like him as a player, but this is a legitimate worry until he proves otherwise.

There's a legitimate worry in every player until they prove otherwise.. hard for Hutson to prove otherwise until he gets an opportunity to do so.

All we have is that he lead BU deep in the NCAA play-offs last year and led the USA to gold in the WJCs this year and none of those weaknesses showed up in the biggest games.

 

[Jaynki]

I get the offense. But watching him play I see a non physical D, not the greatest skater although good edge work, holds on to pucks way too long and plays pond hockey style. That stuff works with kids but he’ll get killed in the show. I don’t find he plays a pro style and it has me question whether his skills will translate. Hope that helps

I agree with everything you say. I dont even question it.

But there is just too much upside and potential to not throw the dart in our organisation in my opinion, unless we have a clear 1C for him

Franchise-killing trade if we trade him and he hits elsewhere.

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

If Mailloux continues to progress as he is, I do think we should trade Hutson. I don't think there is room on this team for both long term. I would wait to see how Mailloux does next year in the A before I would consider this, though.

Agreed. Mailloux is progressing really well which may give the Habs brass more options

 

[Goalfield13]

There's a legitimate worry in every player until they prove otherwise.. hard for Hutson to prove otherwise until he gets an opportunity to do so.

All we have is that he lead BU deep in the NCAA play-offs last year and led the USA to gold in the WJCs this year and none of those weaknesses showed up in the biggest games.

Being 160 lbs D is a pretty big worry. Those tend to not be successful in the NHL. He has a small frame, so I worry that putting on mass is going to be hard for him, and it could slow him down. He isn't exactly a speedster either. Not all worries are created equal, and his are pretty big. If he can add 20 lbs without it affecting his game negatively, then fine.

It's nice he has had post-season success, but it is still not comparable to the NHL playoffs. We don't exactly need to be Nostradamus to see what is likely to happen.

I am hoping he can put my worries to rest, but right now, I have Mailloux as our future PP1 QB, and that makes Hutson expendable.

 

[Goalfield13]

I agree with everything you say. I dont even question it.

But there is just too much upside and potential to not throw the dart in our organisation in my opinion, unless we have a clear 1C for him

Franchise-killing trade if we trade him and he hits elsewhere.

Tough choices are going to have to be made soon with our D core. We have too many knocking on the door. Waiting too long to make a trade could also be franchise killing. We still have time to evaluate, but not a lot.

 

[Jaynki]

Tough choices are going to have to be made soon with our D core. We have too many knocking on the door. Waiting too long to make a trade could also be franchise killing. We still have time to evaluate, but not a lot.

We have too many #4-5-6 knocking on the door.

We don't have too many superstar-potential.

Lane is part of the 2nd category.

We should entertain trading Xhekaj, Harris, Struble, Mailloux, Barron, etc

Not Guhle, Reinbacher and Hutson.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Being 160 lbs D is a pretty big worry. Those tend to not be successful in the NHL. He has a small frame, so I worry that putting on mass is going to be hard for him, and it could slow him down. He isn't exactly a speedster either. Not all worries are created equal, and his are pretty big. If he can add 20 lbs without it affecting his game negatively, then fine.

It's nice he has had post-season success, but it is still not comparable to the NHL playoffs. We don't exactly need to be Nostradamus to see what is likely to happen.

I am hoping he can put my worries to rest, but right now, I have Mailloux as our future PP1 QB, and that makes Hutson expendable.

Mailloux may never be able to play defense at the NHL level due to his IQ.. neither Hutson nor Mailloux make either expendable.

Especially since Mailloux isn't a PP QB unless you think Weber and Souray were, and they weren't, they are PP trigger men.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Hutson and Mailloux will complement each other beautifully on a PP, and can play on different pairing 5on5.

Guhle-Mailloux and Hutson-Reinbacher. That is the future top 4.

 

[Goalfield13]

Mailloux may never be able to play defense at the NHL level due to his IQ.. neither Hutson nor Mailloux make either expendable.

Especially since Mailloux isn't a PP QB unless you think Weber and Souray were, and they weren't, they are PP trigger men.

He's doing well in the AHL while having limited junior experience, so I don't agree his IQ is low.

 

[WeThreeKings]

He's doing well in the AHL while having limited junior experience, so I don't agree his IQ is low.

And I don't agree that Hutson is a hot potato we have to pass because of his size at 19 years old.

 

[Goalfield13]

And I don't agree that Hutson is a hot potato we have to pass because of his size at 19 years old.

I never said that. I said I want to see how Mailloux does in the a next year AND if Hutson can add some mass without negatively impacting his game. Mailloux is ahead for me right now, but that could change, and it is still early.

 

[le_sean]

Hutson and Mailloux will complement each other beautifully on a PP, and can play on different pairing 5on5.

Guhle-Mailloux and Hutson-Reinbacher. That is the future top 4.

Having two defencemen on one PP unit is over. One will man PP1 and the other PP2, assuming they both make it.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Having two defencemen on one PP unit is over. One will man PP1 and the other PP2, assuming they both make it.

Considering Hutson could well be the best QB on the roster and Mailloux could well have the hardest point shot on the roster I could see them both on it.

 

[le_sean]

Considering Hutson could well be the best QB on the roster and Mailloux could well have the hardest point shot on the roster I could see them both on it.

I think the one-timers they want are Cole on the left and Slaf on the right. Hutson will be like Matheson but actually good.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I get the offense. But watching him play I see a non physical D, not the greatest skater although good edge work, holds on to pucks way too long and plays pond hockey style. That stuff works with kids but he’ll get killed in the show. I don’t find he plays a pro style and it has me question whether his skills will translate. Hope that helps

Too much talent. Deal him away and we’ll regret it.

Our lineup is packed with big strong blueliners coming up. Guhle, Mailloux, RB, Struble, Xejac… we’ve got size coming up.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

If Mailloux continues to progress as he is, I do think we should trade Hutson. I don't think there is room on this team for both long term. I would wait to see how Mailloux does next year in the A before I would consider this, though.

A top four of RB, Hutson, Mailloux and Guhle. That’s a sick group.

Why do we need to trade any of them away?

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Being 160 lbs D is a pretty big worry. Those tend to not be successful in the NHL. He has a small frame, so I worry that putting on mass is going to be hard for him, and it could slow him down. He isn't exactly a speedster either. Not all worries are created equal, and his are pretty big. If he can add 20 lbs without it affecting his game negatively, then fine.

It's nice he has had post-season success, but it is still not comparable to the NHL playoffs. We don't exactly need to be Nostradamus to see what is likely to happen.

I am hoping he can put my worries to rest, but right now, I have Mailloux as our future PP1 QB, and that makes Hutson expendable.

He’s not going to be 160lbs in two years. Give it time. He’ll never be big but he’s 5’10 and that’s fine. He’ll add bulk over time.

 

[Miller Time]

A top four of RB, Hutson, Mailloux and Guhle. That’s a sick group.

Why do we need to trade any of them away?

And that's IF neither Engstrom not Konyushkov beat out one of them, which is entirely possible...

We're assembling one heck of a D group

 

[26Mats]

Considering Hutson could well be the best QB on the roster and Mailloux could well have the hardest point shot on the roster I could see them both on it.

Slaf
Caufield Suzuki Hutson
Mailloux

Ylonen
Dach Newhook Roy
Matheson

Or swap Mailloux and Dach.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Tough choices are going to have to be made soon with our D core. We have too many knocking on the door. Waiting too long to make a trade could also be franchise killing. We still have time to evaluate, but not a lot.

Our top four should be set with those guys. Other prospects can fight for the bottom pair. Then we can deal away some prospects for forwards.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

And that's IF neither Engstrom not Konyushkov beat out one of them, which is entirely possible...

We're assembling one heck of a D group

Yeah Engstrom is still out there. We’re packed with talent.

I hate the idea of trading Hutson though. For the life of me I don’t get why people keep putting his name out there.

 

[Miller Time]

Yeah Engstrom is still out there. We’re packed with talent.

I hate the idea of trading Hutson though. For the life of me I don’t get why people keep putting his name out there.

It's quite odd... You'd have to totally ignore everything about how KH has managed the organization & everything he's said about the direction (both style of play & character/culture) to think there's even a remote chance Hutson gets traded before he's had a chance to develop as a pro.

 

[salbutera]

I have the same feeling about him, this player is a black box for me as a pro. I see the offensive dominance in the NCAA on a very good team at that level, but given his physical limitations, I don't see how he will be able to replicate that quickly in the NHL and also in the AHL, which is a though league to play in physically.

In the NHL, the only D with a similar frame is Jared Spurgeon, listed at 5'09, 166 lbs, and Spurgeon played junior at 20, that's why I want Hutson to play one more year at BU, just to work on getting stronger and being more ready physically. Spurgeon is not as gifted offensively as Hutson, but he is a better skater. Also, find me the last team to win a Stanley Cup with a D that is 5'10 or less. Samuel Girard was hurt early in the playoffs when Colorado won it.

All that to say that I dont see how his play at this stage of his career would translate well to the pros. A defensman need first to be able to defend well, the offense comes on top of it. We see it this year with Struble, he rose above the others because he can defend well at the pro level. He was a plug and play D last spring in Laval, and made the jump to Montréal at the first opportunity, never to be sent down again. During this time, Harris, Barron and Xhekaj, better offensively, are struggling to establish themselves in the NHL on a weak team. All that to say that I don't know what we will get in the pros with Hutson, especially if he turns pro this year. If he is to succeed, he will need time. He is not Quinn Hughes, and Adam Fox played three years in the NCAA. Hutson should do the same and the kid is open to it. It's on Hughes and Gorton to be wise with him. And the nice thing is that the Habs can afford to be patient with him.

Hutson will be the key to implementing Hughes & MSLs position less concept game..will be fascinating to watch play out IMO.

I’m expecting an extreme, either new age breakthrough or colossal fail

 

[jfm133]

What concept are you talking about. It does not exist in any NHL team. This thing is pure fantasy.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Yeah Engstrom is still out there. We’re packed with talent.

I hate the idea of trading Hutson though. For the life of me I don’t get why people keep putting his name out there.

Yeah of all the hating of our management in the past for trying to be the ‘smartest people in the room’, this trade Hutson talk stemming from this over scouting reeks of it.

He put up historic numbers without Celebrini in case we forgot last year already.

And this treating players like stocks, wanting to ‘sell high’ at every turn is frustratingly simplistic uni-dimensional thinking. Hutson was our 4th pick of the draft and has enormous upside. You can absolutely afford to hold on to him and find out for sure. We have plenty of D depth that can absorb the loss. Along with His insane potential, it makes it a no brainer to keep him