LD Lane Hutson - Boston University, NCAA (2022, 62nd, MTL)

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Hutson is a luxury player. I can see how it works for him, but I can also see how it doesn't.

He's really most comparable to Quinn Hughes, but with better defensive play and worse skating.

I've stopped comparing him to some other smaller defensemen that have panned out like Spurgeon or Girard because I think he's a little too different from them,.

Some of the offensive risks he takes are going to drive coaches crazy, and he makes a lot of plays that you'd advise against. He often tries to make very low percentage plays to create scoring chances instead of making the advisable play to an open teammate.

He needs a defensive partner that can babysit all his excursions. Thats a hard player to try to accommodate. He'll need to be developed correctly. Not everyone is going to be willing to accommodate Hutson, especially considering he's not some generational prospect with that style.

I thought he had a good tournament, but not a great one.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Great post. I am coming around to McGoarty, and share your hesitancy about buying into the smaller players on the squad making a dent in the NHL. I do like Gauthier quite a bit, and thought I liked him more than McGroarty, but i'm not so sure now. It really depends how much he, Snuggerud, and Kaplan mature, and how well they can take physical play. You never know, really, till a guy their own size or bigger lays into them. Nazar has a game like Garland's, maybe? Isaac I'm not sure about.
No Lucius?

Gauthier was misused. He's not a winger. He needs to play on the inside of the ice and play a simple game. When you put him at winger he tries to impersonate the small skill guys, and he's not that.

Forgot about Lucius. He's missed nearly the whole year that it's easy to forget about him. He's okay. I like him a little more than last season. He's probably like a mid-round pick. I'd put him after Spicer, but above Berard.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Finished second all time in points for a defenseman at the NTDP. Notables he finished above include Fox, Hughes, Hughes, Sanderson, and McAvoy.

 

[pman25]

Man how do you not gamble on a talent like this in the 1st round, especially in the back half or a team with multiple firsts? Somebody take this kid early. Always bet on skill in the 1st round

 

[Captain Mountain]

Man how do you not gamble on a talent like this in the 1st round, especially in the back half or a team with multiple firsts? Somebody take this kid early. Always bet on skill in the 1st round

If he makes it that far, I think one of Buffalo (28th, 41st), Montreal (30ish, 33rd) or Arizona (31st & 32nd-ish, 34th) will end up taking a chance on him.

 

[pman25]

If he makes it that far, I think one of Buffalo (28th, 41st), Montreal (30ish, 33rd) or Arizona (31st & 32nd-ish, 34th) will end up taking a chance on him.

Depending on who is available, as a Caps fan, I wouldn't be upset at all if the scoop him up at 20. But really no excuse for a team that has a couple picks within the top 50. Especially those loaded with them in the 1st and 2nd like Arizona, who just needs to stockpile talent everywhere

 

[DatDude44]

Would be willing to put money on Arizona or Seattle drafting him

 

[bsu]

Every time I watch shift by shift or game footage he catches my eye a lot... even when I'm not watching for him.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Every time I watch shift by shift or game footage he catches my eye a lot... even when I'm not watching for him.

Yeah he has elite qualities, particularly the skating

Even if I'm tracking Nazar or Cooley or anyone else on the roster, inevitably Hutson will draw my attention

 

[Kevin Musto]

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I don’t understand stuff like this. All 32 teams will pick in a range where he could be there when they pick. I saw Kasper say he spoke with 30 teams. 30 teams will not pick in a range where they can draft Kasper.

 

[Hockeygrassroots]

The NTDP players apparently have NHL teams that visit Plymouth and do meetings/interviews all year long. Its like a one stop shop where NHL teams can hit a handful of top players at once. A good number of teams have already had several in person meets/zooms with the top NTDP kids.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

The NTDP players apparently have NHL teams that visit Plymouth and do meetings/interviews all year long. Its like a one stop shop where NHL teams can hit a handful of top players at once. A good number of teams have already had several in person meets/zooms with the top NTDP kids.

Was going to come and post this. Most teams probably have a really good sense on these NTDP players. Markus Kasper? Not so much.

 

[RainyCityHockey]

Was going to come and post this. Most teams probably have a really good sense on these NTDP players. Markus Kasper? Not so much.

They still won't know who that is even after those combine interviews....

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

He officially measured in at:

• Lane Hutson (25th NA): 5-foot-8.25, 158 pounds

Source: 2022 NHL Combine Heights & Weights

He thinks he can grow a bit:

10 things learned from 2022 NHL Scouting Combine | NHL.com

Wright ready to be difference-maker; Slafkovsky interviewed by 14 teams; Savoie 'feeling good' after injury

www.nhl.com

Sizing up the situation​

Lane Hutson (5-8, 148) came to the combine prepared to ease any concern teams might have had about his ability to play in the NHL at his current size.

"I've seen an endocrinologist for my bone age and my bone age is delayed compared to my biological age," said Hutson, a defenseman for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team. "So, there's still room to grow for myself. For teams concerned about it, I'm still not done growing."

Hutson said his older brother, Quinn, grew a few inches between his 19th and 20th birthdays to reach 5-11, the same height as their father. Lane said there's a chance he'll reach 5-11 as well.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

They still won't know who that is even after those combine interviews....

Lol that's what I get for posting after midnight...

 

[wetcoast]

He officially measured in at:

• Lane Hutson (25th NA): 5-foot-8.25, 158 pounds

Source: 2022 NHL Combine Heights & Weights

He thinks he can grow a bit:

10 things learned from 2022 NHL Scouting Combine | NHL.com

Wright ready to be difference-maker; Slafkovsky interviewed by 14 teams; Savoie 'feeling good' after injury

www.nhl.com

Will the new trend for NHL teams be to hire an endocrinologist on their scouting staff?

For the Canucks I'd hire one and let Ron Delorme go...just saying.

 

[Hockeygrassroots]

The kid looked 12 when he was 16 at the youth Olympics, so this is not surprising to me that his growth plates are not yet closed and he still has growth left. He grew nearly 3 inches and added over 30 lbs while at the program, I imagine a couple years at college will add even more weight and some inches.

 

[starsfan86]

I wouldn’t be upset if the Stars drafted him at 18. Or even trade down and get an extra second then draft him later in the first.

 

[Rekingsfan17]

I saw something posted (I think on Twitter hockey......?) that was making a point about how his wingspan measurement was wider than you would expect for someone his height. It was inferring that his wingspan might give him the same advantage of a taller player. Did anyone else see that post.........
I wanted to take a closer look into that because I found it interesting but can't find the post or even a full list of the wingspan results from the Combine.

 

[starsfan86]

I saw something posted (I think on Twitter hockey......?) that was making a point about how his wingspan measurement was wider than you would expect for someone his height. It was inferring that his wingspan might give him the same advantage of a taller player. Did anyone else see that post.........
I wanted to take a closer look into that because I found it interesting but can't find the post or even a full list of the wingspan results from the Combine.

I really think he’s not done growing and he’s going to be a steal for whoever drafts him. My buddy’s dad is best friends with his dad so I’m a big supporter.

 

[Peasy]

I saw something posted (I think on Twitter hockey......?) that was making a point about how his wingspan measurement was wider than you would expect for someone his height. It was inferring that his wingspan might give him the same advantage of a taller player. Did anyone else see that post.........
I wanted to take a closer look into that because I found it interesting but can't find the post or even a full list of the wingspan results from the Combine.

Wingspan doesn't give the same advantages in hockey as it does in a sport like basketball. Weird measurement to key in on. I guess it can help with stick checking.

 

[Steve Kournianos]

Sorry gang but I can't get behind Hutson going in the first round after initially thinking i could. I agree that he is far better defensively than some initially gave him credit for and there is some Sean Behrens (some) in him from a physical/defensive standpoint, but I can't put a 5'8 defenseman in the first round in one of the deepest drafts we've had for defensemen. No harm in putting him in Round 2 since so many elite NHL men were drafted there, but the vast, vast majority of the NHL's best forwards come from Round 1, which means only the max-max upside defenders should go in the top 32.

My prediction is that it will take him three or four years of college and two more in the AHL to even sniff a full-time NHL job. Everyone also goes "Krug" and "Girard", but look at the other smaller types who can't crack a roster full-time or took forever-- Ahcan, Perunovich, Aho, Bryson etc.

It may be worth the wait, but within that timeframe you'll probably be kicking yourself for passing on a forward who by 22 or 23 is already established on a first or second line. It's just weird that the narrative surrounding Hutson has shifted from skilled but small to skilled and "oh, he'll grow 2-3 inches because of bone age and he has a massive wingspan".

I'm not relying on bone age in Round 1. Round 2? No problem.

 

[Hockeygrassroots]

Sorry gang but I can't get behind Hutson going in the first round after initially thinking i could. I agree that he is far better defensively than some initially gave him credit for and there is some Sean Behrens (some) in him from a physical/defensive standpoint, but I can't put a 5'8 defenseman in the first round in one of the deepest drafts we've had for defensemen. No harm in putting him in Round 2 since so many elite NHL men were drafted there, but the vast, vast majority of the NHL's best forwards come from Round 1, which means only the max-max upside defenders should go in the top 32.

My prediction is that it will take him three or four years of college and two more in the AHL to even sniff a full-time NHL job. Everyone also goes "Krug" and "Girard", but look at the other smaller types who can't crack a roster full-time or took forever-- Ahcan, Perunovich, Aho, Bryson etc.

It may be worth the wait, but within that timeframe you'll probably be kicking yourself for passing on a forward who by 22 or 23 is already established on a first or second line. It's just weird that the narrative surrounding Hutson has shifted from skilled but small to skilled and "oh, he'll grow 2-3 inches because of bone age and he has a massive wingspan".

I'm not relying on bone age in Round 1. Round 2? No problem.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

I prefer Hutson to Behrens. Behrens could definitely end up the better player, but if I'm going to bet on a small defenseman, I want someone with Hutson's dynamism. His upside definitely warrants a 1st rounder. If he doesn't work out, oh well, most players picked in the 20-30 range don't. But if he hits? Hutson could be a home run.

And I'm generally cautious with drafting small players too high with only perceived upside in mind.