Lane Hutson Just Won the Calder Trophy
Lane Hutson is a Difference Maker for the Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens have a special player on their hands, and that player is defenseman Lane Hutson.
Hutson created history on Tuesday night in the Canadiens' 3-2 overtime victory over the Panthers. He passed Chris Chelios for the most assists in franchise history with a three-assist performance. Hutson has up to 57 assists in the season, passing Chelios, who recorded 55 assists in the 1984-85 season.
It was another great performance by the young rookie defenseman. He tied Chelios with 55 assists in franchise history on the opening goal recorded by Josh Anderson for the Canadiens. He then broke the tie when he assisted on the Nick Suzuki game-winning goal with eight seconds left in the third period to send the game into overtime.
Then he broke the tie with the Hockey Hall of Famer when he recorded an assist on Suzuki’s game-winning overtime goal. Lane Hutson has transformed the Canadiens entire offense from the backend.
Hutson is the first rookie defenseman to record 60 points since Nicklas Lidstrom in 1991-92. If you are doing things that another Hockey Hall of Famer is doing, the conversation about who won the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year is over.
Huton is up to 62 points (five goals and 57 assists). That is a back-to-back three-point game for Hutson. He has really brought a different dynamic to the Canadiens, something that has been missing for a long time.
Around Full Press Hockey
Montreal Canadiens: NHL Rumors: Canadiens GM Kent Hughes Will Shop For A Center This Offseason
Toronto Maple Leafs: What Will Happen Between Mitch Marner and the Toronto Maple Leafs?
NHL: 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Who Wants the Final Wild Card Spot in the Eastern Conference?
Seattle Kraken: Could the Seattle Kraken Make a GM Change?
PODCAST: Goalie Interference: The Controversy Continues!
WANT MORE PODCASTS? Can the Montreal Canadiens Make the Playoffs?
Lots of people believed he was ready for the NHL, including former assistant coach, head coach, general manager, and scout Pierre McGuire. He stated before the season that Lane Hutson brings an NHL skill level to your team. He brought a ready-made NHL skill level. Could he defend in the NHL? That was another story, but he could bring it offensively.
You can see that, but you are seeing him defend on the fly. Hutson still can work on his defending, but his offensive ability is undeniable. Remember, he is still a rookie. So he has more than enough time to transform himself into an overall great defenseman like Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, or the great Scott Niedermayer.
Even Dave Reid of NHL Network talked about how Hutson dominates on the ice with the puck, similar to Quinn Hughes. He makes his opponents give him the power.
“That's where Lane Hutson is going to get his game to because right now, the way he can control play, the way he can get the puck out of his own, the way he can quarterback and power play is one of the main reasons the Montreal Canadiens are in a playoff spot at this time and will be fighting for a playoff spot the rest of the way through this season. He's been absolutely spectacular in his rookie year,” Reid said.
Hutson is showing what you can do as a smaller defenseman in the league. Hutson’s size would be negative 20 years ago. He would not have sniffed the ice. Now, he is lauded for what he can do with the puck.
And he has a passion for the game like no other. He wants to be on the ice all the time to improve his game. That is a winner’s mindset. Hutson was the only player on the ice at Brossard, so he can work on his game. He just wants to be on the ice all the time to be the best in the world.
The Canadiens had to tell a facility on the road to lock the doors so he could get some rest. This is what you want in one of your best players. This is not to say that Macklin Celebrini, Matvei Michkov, and Dustin Wolf have that passion, but what Hutson is doing is remarkable.
With the way Hutson is playing, he has positioned the Canadiens to where they are competing for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Everything changed when Hutson was brought into the fold. It started at the end of last season and carried over into this season. The Canadiens are just a different team with a difference maker on defense.
Hutson is three assists away from tying Larry Murphy for the most assists by a rookie defenseman with 60 in NHL history.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? We are posting weekly podcasts, hot takes, and rumors from around the NHL. Come along for the ride.