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

[Herby]

It'll be interesting to see him at the World Juniors. Big question is will the Canadians look at him as the guy you dump every puck into his corner and attack on the forecheck every time he's on the ice (assuming the countries meet). That's the number 1 thing I'll be watching for. If dumping in your direction becomes an automatic puck retrieval for the opposition, becomes really hard to play you on defense in the NHL.

People said the same thing about Hughes and it didn't matter for Quinn he has still dominated at the NHL level. Hutson doesn't quite have the game sense that Q Hughes has, and he's also a little bit smaller, but these guys are used to the type of tactics used to try and slow them down and are usually able to adjust.

 

[WarriorofTime]

People said the same thing about Hughes and it didn't matter for Quinn he has still dominated at the NHL level. Hutson doesn't quite have the game sense that Q Hughes has, and he's also a little bit smaller, but these guys are used to the type of tactics used to try and slow them down and are usually able to adjust.

Q. Hughes quite a bit thicker when he was drafted, like I think 25 pounds heavier at the time of the draft. So a question of how a stronger L. Hutson is able to handle extra weight in terms of how it impacts his skating at the pro level. No concerns whenever the puck is on his stick particularly in the offensive zone, it's the times he doesn't have it in the offensive zone that's the big question for him.

 

[LemonSauceD]

People said the same thing about Hughes and it didn't matter for Quinn he has still dominated at the NHL level. Hutson doesn't quite have the game sense that Q Hughes has, and he's also a little bit smaller, but these guys are used to the type of tactics used to try and slow them down and are usually able to adjust.

Quinn Hughes was a much better defender and skater than Hutson is right now. He was also thicker, more robust, and much more agile which allowed him to be positionally sound and angle guys off the puck and escape his way out of trouble. You can see the structure and defensive anatomy in Hughes, even though he was very much flawed and a work in progress. Hutson doesn’t really have that structure, his defensive game is pretty unorthodox and doesn’t exactly have the agility or transitional skills to be able to escape his way out of trouble or settle the pace of the game, defensively speaking. Hutson definitely is the better offensive catalyst than Hughes was, no question about that.

I think the main underlying thing here is that Hutson is only 19. It took Hughes around his D+4 season to really improve defensively, to the point where he’s average to slightly above average. The thing is, he had the tools to work with. Hutson I don’t truly think has the necessary toolset to significantly improve defensively.

 

[alasania94]

Quinn Hughes was a much better defender and skater than Hutson is right now. He was also thicker, more robust, and much more agile which allowed him to be positionally sound and angle guys off the puck and escape his way out of trouble. You can see the structure and defensive anatomy in Hughes, even though he was very much flawed and a work in progress. Hutson doesn’t really have that structure, his defensive game is pretty unorthodox and doesn’t exactly have the agility or transitional skills to be able to escape his way out of trouble or settle the pace of the game, defensively speaking. Hutson definitely is the better offensive catalyst than Hughes was, no question about that.

I think the main underlying thing here is that Hutson is only 19. It took Hughes around his D+4 season to really improve defensively, to the point where he’s average to slightly above average. The thing is, he had the tools to work with. Hutson I don’t truly think has the necessary toolset to significantly improve defensively.

Out of curiosity, what "tools" did Hughes have that Hutson doesn't have at the same age?

 

[Herby]

Out of curiosity, what "tools" did Hughes have that Hutson doesn't have at the same age?

While I am a big Hutson fan, the biggest difference between the players is that Hughes has extraordinary game sense, I think it could be argued the best in the NHL. Where a guy like Hutson is going to rely more on physical tools than Hughes did. Now I am not saying Hutson has poor game-sense, just that there are very few, if any, at the level of Hughes.

 

[LemonSauceD]

Out of curiosity, what "tools" did Hughes have that Hutson doesn't have at the same age?

Gap control (though limited due to his size), good sense of positioning (prone to losing it when under immense pressure), high hockey IQ (lacked poise and commitment in disrupting plays and missing key defensive zone assignments), transitional awareness, and lower body strength (his explosiveness comes to mind).

You can see he had the tools but was still very much a work in progress.

 

[TLEH]

Regardless of how Hutson turns out, taking a player with that much production at 62 is still a great pick. He certainly isn't Quinn Hughes, though.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Can we stop with the narrative that small offensively minded defensemen need to be converted to wingers? That's not how skillsets transfer typically, especially for a guy like him.

We don't need him to be elite defensively in the pros.

 

[montreal]

Out of curiosity, what "tools" did Hughes have that Hutson doesn't have at the same age?

Skating/speed and a few more pounds maybe.

 

[LemonSauceD]

Can we stop with the narrative that small offensively minded defensemen need to be converted to wingers? That's not how skillsets transfer typically, especially for a guy like him.

We don't need him to be elite defensively in the pros.

Nonsense. There are TONS of players who switch positions. Usually they do it around 15-17 but there are definitely cases where they convert at a much later age.

His BU teammate Willander was a forward until 2 years ago. Andrei Markov was drafted as a center, he turned out pretty well for the Habs as a defenseman. Wendel Clark was drafted as a defenseman. Ian White, Brian Campbell, etc are other examples that converted from forward to defenseman. I also read somewhere Mike Ribeiro grew up playing as a defenseman (lmao)

 

[Mrb1p]

Can we stop with the narrative that small offensively minded defensemen need to be converted to wingers? That's not how skillsets transfer typically, especially for a guy like him.

We don't need him to be elite defensively in the pros.

Hed have a perfect winger skillset

 

[Legend123]

Nonsense. There are TONS of players who switch positions. Usually they do it around 15-17 but there are definitely cases where they convert at a much later age.

His BU teammate Willander was a forward until 2 years ago. Andrei Markov was drafted as a center, he turned out pretty well for the Habs as a defenseman. Wendel Clark was drafted as a defenseman. Ian White, Brian Campbell, etc are other examples that converted from forward to defenseman. I also read somewhere Mike Ribeiro grew up playing as a defenseman (lmao)

why would the habs ever convert one of the best D prospect to forward???

LMAO

He's been super successful as Dman so far

 

[LemonSauceD]

why would the habs ever convert one of the best D prospect to forward???

LMAO

He's been super successful as Dman so far

Because he’s not good defensively. Like extreme levels.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Because he’s not good defensively. Like extreme levels.

Disagree. He's nothing special defensively but he's smart and talented and adjusts quickly, I don't see why he couldn't get to where someone like Hughes is now (defensively).

Hed have a perfect winger skillset

Hard disagree. A lot of his efficacy is from creating disadvantages by evading people at the point and on the rush, he's got an amazing understanding of the space provided to him.

Just stick him with Reinbacher (I assume that's the reason we reached on him) and reap the rewards.

 

[Bouboumaster]

Why do defense when you can do offense and actually win games?

 

[montreal]

 

[montreal]

 

[montreal]

 

[montreal]

 

[Terrier]

Just a heads up, BU has a home-and-home this weekend with Merrimack, then will not play again until Dec. 29 at Yale.

No. 4/5 Men's Hockey Hits Road Friday to Begin Home-and-Home Series with Merrimack - Boston University Athletics

#4/5 Boston University (9-4-1, 5-1-1 HE) at/vs. Merrimack (6-6-1, 2-4-1 HE)

goterriers.com

2024-25 Hockey East Men's Gameday - Hockey East Association

Hockey East Gameday

hockeyeastonline.com

 

[Junohockeyfan]

Its fun to watch Hutson and Cellebrini. Its like they are showboating all the time.

 

[Terrier]

Its fun to watch Hutson and Cellebrini. Its like they are showboating all the time.

 

[montreal]

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

Tons of talents here obviously

but one thing i think he needs to change eventually is that he needs to play with his teammates more in the offensive zone instead of trying to do everything on his own

Now maybe he got a nod from his coach to play like this on the BU, but he would be need to change his style in the NHL. not even Makar or Hughes play like that in the offensive zone

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Tons of talents here obviously

but one thing i think he needs to change eventually is that he needs to play with his teammates more in the offensive zone instead of trying to do everything on his own

Now maybe he got a nod from his coach to play like this on the BU, but he would be need to change his style in the NHL. not even Makar or Hughes play like that in the offensive zone

That's the case for most elite offensive prospects playing in a non-professional league. When a player is that much more talented than everyone else and the opposition isn't strong enough, they will tend to try to do more on their own.