Lane Hutson just pulled off something pretty amazing for the Montreal Canadiens. The rookie defenseman racked up 60 assists last season – tying an NHL record for first-year defenders that’s stood since Larry Murphy set it.
His 66 total points put him in some seriously elite company. We’re talking Hall of Famers like Chris Chelios, Nicklas Lidstrom, and Ray Bourque.
But here’s what makes Hutson different: he’s doing it his own way.
He’s actually the first rookie defenseman ever to score more than 50 points while having a negative plus-minus rating. That might sound bad, but it really just shows how much action happens when he’s on the ice.
What makes Hutson special is how he plays. He’s incredibly quick and smooth on his skates, weaving through tight spaces that most players can’t even think about getting through. Think of him as a hockey ninja – small but incredibly skilled.
There’s just one catch: he’s tiny by NHL standards.
Only one defenseman under 5-foot-11 has ever scored more than 1,000 career points – Phil Housley, who finished with 1,232. The next closest? Randy Carlyle with 647 points, and he was built like a truck at over 200 pounds.
But Hutson doesn’t seem to care about those odds. He played his way right to the top of Montreal’s defense last year, using the same moves that made him stand out in youth hockey.
Teams are getting smarter though. They’ve got video analysis and all kinds of stats to study his game. Most of Hutson’s best plays come from sneaking around the edges of the offensive zone or making creative passes from behind the net.
The big question is: can he adjust when teams figure out his tricks?
He’s up for a new contract next summer, and the Canadiens have to be thinking hard about his future. Of the nine other defensemen who scored 60+ points as rookies, seven played more than 1,000 NHL games.
The Canadiens are building something special on defense. They’ve got Noah Dobson bringing the flash, plus solid defenders like Kaiden Guhle, Alexandre Carrier, and Mike Matheson.
But it’s Hutson’s sophomore season that could really tell us what’s coming. If he can prove this wasn’t just beginner’s luck, he might just lock down Montreal’s top defensive spot for the next decade.
One thing’s for sure – hockey fans won’t want to miss what happens next.
