Player Discussion Lane Hutson Part 2

[BaseballCoach]

I expect him to be a salary cap casualty at some point

I'm not so sure. I think Matheson loves playing in his home town, loves the brass and his teammates, and so he might be reasonable in his requirements. At some point, Hughes will have to feel his new agent out, but we are two years from that point, at least.

I highly doubt that. High IQ reigns supreme

For sure, IQ is a Hutson strength. However, he needs to work on his physical limitations, at least to make them less of a concern. This might take at least this year and next before he can handle anything but a cup of coffee in the bigs.

 

[Habbietat]

https://x.com/BOShockeyblog/status/1712873667825135752?s=20

 

[1440]

Posted this in the Canucks forum, but thought it relevant to you guys too, my thoughts on BUs second game of the season:

Frustrating game from a BU perspective. Very sloppy play on both sides of the puck.

I am as big a Lane Hutson fan as any (would have been my pick at 15 2 years ago), but he was a real detriment to his team in this one. Other teams are really keying on him as the offensive catalyst for BU and he was caught trying to do too much and ended up skating himself into trouble far too often. He has excellent puck skills and is an elusive, deceptive skater (kind of like Q Hughes without the straight line speed) but he didn't use his teammates well in this one. He also played probably half the game, which meant he had the puck a lot but didn't do anything with it.

I didn't watch BUs first game, but he apparently played 36 minutes and possessed the puck for over 4 of those minutes. Sounds impressive at first glance, but after watching this game, he could stand to use his teammates more and play a simpler game. Macklin Celebrini is an equally gifted offensive player and a forward, and if I am BU I want him on the puck in the offensive zone instead of Hutson.

Aiden Celibrini was probably the best of BUs defensemen in this one. Made good, simple passes and played with a little bit of a physical edge. Impressive for a 6th rounder and a freshman.

As for Willander, he showed fairly well, especially in the first. Smooth skater, good shot. Looked a little tired in the third, which is probably to be expected given that this was his first game of the season. He definitely deserves to be on the first unit with Hutson moving forward.

 

[Balthazar]

he was a real detriment to his team in this one. Other teams are really keying on him as the offensive catalyst for BU and he was caught trying to do too much and ended up skating himself into trouble far too often. He has excellent puck skills and is an elusive, deceptive skater (kind of like Q Hughes without the straight line speed) but he didn't use his teammates well in this one. He also played probably half the game, which meant he had the puck a lot but didn't do anything with it.

Interesting. Seems like another year before going pro won't hurt.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Interesting. Seems like another year before going pro won't hurt.

Nah, he can go to the AHL if other things need to be worked on. Him putting up another insane year offensively at that level won't help anything. He'll have to problem solve and learn at a higher level.

 

[SlafySZN]

Nah, he can go to the AHL if other things need to be worked on. Him putting up another insane year offensively at that level won't help anything. He'll have to problem solve and learn at a higher level.

Plus he played only 2 games this year lol

He’ll sure get better on what he has to work on, during the year. Can’t judge where he’s gonna play a year from now because of 2 games with new teammates. Most of the team is different compared to last year, they all have to adjust.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Plus he played only 2 games this year lol

He’ll sure get better on what he has to work on, during the year. Can’t judge where he’s gonna play a year from now because of 2 games with new teammates. Most of the team is different compared to last year, they all have to adjust.

Earlier games too.

Hockey is such a sport of timing and chemistry.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I expect him to be a salary cap casualty at some point

He will be traded to make way for the kids

 

[SlafySZN]

Earlier games too.

Hockey is such a sport of timing and chemistry.

Exactly.

They had 1-2 games like this at the start of last season too

 

[KevSkillz4]

It's ok to have bad games... Hutson can do better than that in defensive zone, for sure. He show up in offensive and it's fun to watch his offensive talent in his 2nd year in NCAA. Defense will take time to improve, I'm 100% confident with Lane Hutson potential, he will rebound next game and play much a better game!

 

[1440]

Interesting. Seems like another year before going pro won't hurt.

Obviously depends on how his season goes, but part of him trying to do too much might be that he is ready for the next level in terms of challenge, so maybe Laval would be good for him. That said, it's not like he is playing with bums at BU, they have a lot of drafted players and M. Celibrini could go 1st OA next year.

He is definitely an NHL calibre talent, but it remains to be seen what sort of niche he can carve out for himself. Will he just be a PP specialist, or can he round out his game and become an all around puck mover like Q Hughes? He will be a far better and more effective player if he uses his linemates more, especially at the NHL level. He may be the most skilled player on the ice in many of his NCAA games (arguably not with Celibrini on his team), but he definitely won't be in the show. If he can focus his skillset on quick transitions, playing more conservatively and in attempting to make plays at 5 on 5 from in zone offense off the point only when the situation calls for it he will be far, far better than the current style, which seems to involve lots of skating circles in around the offensive zone trying to beat the winger checking him 2-3 times while doing so.

 

[HabsAddict]

I like the kid OBVIOUSLY but I'll wait until he plays against NHL apes.

Remember what Reaves did to Guhle? And Guhle is not a small guy. That's going to happen to Hutson every game.

Let's see him in the NHL. At worst, he may play protected minutes and be a PP specialist.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I like the kid OBVIOUSLY but I'll wait until he plays against NHL apes.

Remember what Reaves did to Guhle? And Guhle is not a small guy. That's going to happen to Hutson every game.

Let's see him in the NHL. At worst, he may play protected minutes and be a PP specialist.

Caufield is smaller. He gets pushed around sometimes but even when he does he often comes out of the scrum with the puck.

Size is a factor that shouldn’t be ignored. But when you have prospects that are that dominant it’s a good sign that they can overcome it. We obviously have to wait and see but I’m optimistic.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

I like the kid OBVIOUSLY but I'll wait until he plays against NHL apes.

Remember what Reaves did to Guhle? And Guhle is not a small guy. That's going to happen to Hutson every game.

Let's see him in the NHL. At worst, he may play protected minutes and be a PP specialist.

Not necessarily. Some players are good at avoiding hits, and others aren't. You look at Caufield, he's been hit far less than Slafkovsky despite having played way more games.
Hutson is very shifty and is good at keeping his head up, so I think he will be good at avoiding big hits.

 

[Ezpz]

I like the kid OBVIOUSLY but I'll wait until he plays against NHL apes.

Remember what Reaves did to Guhle? And Guhle is not a small guy. That's going to happen to Hutson every game.

Let's see him in the NHL. At worst, he may play protected minutes and be a PP specialist.

Reaves is one of the heaviest forwards in the league (and it isn't fat like Maroon or baby weight like Mantha) and his only role is hitting and fighting people. Guhle is also below average weight for a 6'3 dman in the NHL. I don't think you'll see him getting taken down frequently in a couple years as he gets bigger.

Hutson won't be in the same situations I think. He's not going to be the guy on the PK or defending the lead.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Caufield is smaller. He gets pushed around sometimes but even when he does he often comes out of the scrum with the puck.

Size is a factor that shouldn’t be ignored. But when you have prospects that are that dominant it’s a good sign that they can overcome it. We obviously have to wait and see but I’m optimistic.

Caufield is much thicker than Hutson, the kid literally has twigs for legs.

 

[Paddy17]

Some fans will have to start tempering their expectations this year... he had a historic season last year, and people have to realize that if he has LESS points this year, it doesn't mean that he's regressed. He's good, but he's also got lots of things to work on over the next two years before having an impact in the NHL. Let's not expect him to dominate every NCAA game and get tons of points.

 

[Guess]

Obviously depends on how his season goes, but part of him trying to do too much might be that he is ready for the next level in terms of challenge, so maybe Laval would be good for him. That said, it's not like he is playing with bums at BU, they have a lot of drafted players and M. Celibrini could go 1st OA next year.

He is definitely an NHL calibre talent, but it remains to be seen what sort of niche he can carve out for himself. Will he just be a PP specialist, or can he round out his game and become an all around puck mover like Q Hughes? He will be a far better and more effective player if he uses his linemates more, especially at the NHL level. He may be the most skilled player on the ice in many of his NCAA games (arguably not with Celibrini on his team), but he definitely won't be in the show. If he can focus his skillset on quick transitions, playing more conservatively and in attempting to make plays at 5 on 5 from in zone offense off the point only when the situation calls for it he will be far, far better than the current style, which seems to involve lots of skating circles in around the offensive zone trying to beat the winger checking him 2-3 times while doing so.

This is exactly what I mentioned here a while back and got criticized for not letting him play his game
Definitely needs to use linemates better, he doesn't have the separation speed or the size to do everything by himself.

 

[BJCOLLINS]

It's ok to have bad games... Hutson can do better than that in defensive zone, for sure. He show up in offensive and it's fun to watch his offensive talent in his 2nd year in NCAA. Defense will take time to improve, I'm 100% confident with Lane Hutson potential, he will rebound next game and play much a better game!

you’re 100%. It’s early October folk’s!!

Hutson has a hockey IQ that is rare, he will try (read & react) a lot of different looks. Watch him he rarely makes the same mistake….when he does you can see him talking to himself, h’s learning. Let him make all the ”miscues” he wants….its NCAA. That’s the place to learn.

 

[Goldenhands]

Another nightmare of a night for Hutson in his own zone, USNDTP crushing BU hard 8-1, looks completely lost and disinterested defensively, Another week-end like this and Bouillon should go meet the kid, he isnt headed in the right direction, will never make the NHL if he doesnt become at least potent at defending.

 

[Jamaican Patty]

Obviously, but there is no comparison between him and Hutson. Lane would be the weakest player in the NHL by a significant margin.

Which is why I have no faith in Hutson and Caufield. Both those guys can’t be the top players on a team thats trying to win a cup. Hutson most likely is a 3rd pairing PP specialist and Caufield should be a second liner/PP1 type player.

 

[montreal]

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Still small and easy to push off the puck.

He's quite good at staying on the puck. He doesn't give an inch and he often comes out of scrums with the puck. He'll never muscle guys off of it but he's great at stick checking.

 

[jfm133]

I understand the buzz about Hutson, great stats last year, nice skills and IQ is very good, but at 5'09" and 160 lbs he won't be a first pair D. Impossible, unless he would be the Gretzky of his era as a defenseman. At this point he projects at best as PP specialist that will be protected at 5 on 5 by the coach. Look at Sean Farrell, he had great stats in the NCAA and USHL, dominant stats, but he is also small and he struggles at the pro level. That being said, if he ends up at 5'11". and 180 lbs, it will be another strory.

 

[Yasuo]

He got humbled this week-end. That big lost against his brother last night was probably what he needed. Let's see if he come back stronger and learn how to use his linemate more instead of trying to dekes everyone on the other team.