Canadiens’ Hutson Joins Elite Company After 100 NHL Games – Hockey Writers – Montreal Canadiens
Reaching 100 NHL games is a significant milestone for any young player, but in Lane Hutson’s case, it feels like the start of what could be a remarkable career. The 21-year-old defenseman continues to rewrite expectations every week, and his first 100 games are in a rare organization.
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With those 100 things, Hutson recorded 75 assists, the second-last defenseman in the history of the NHL with 100 games, following his seven goals, and Hutron stayed at 82 levels. Considering the evolution of the modern NHL and the difficulty of protecting young players from early dominance, Hutson’s numbers speak volumes for his talent and his impact on the Canadiens.
Hutson’s ability to drive plays, create an offense at the back end, and quarterback transitions turned Montreal’s blue line into a legitimate force. His vision is unique, his patience with the puck is rare, and his tenacity under pressure has become like no other veteran. When he gets on the ice, the momentum is often raging right away in favor of the Canadiens. Few defenders have been able to predict the pace of the game the way Hutson can. The historical point only reinforces what has been shown to the eye since the tear: you are special.
From admiration to power
What makes this rise is more telling of where this story started. Hutson didn’t deserve to be this good, this fast. When he was selected 62nd overall in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, many teams passed on him because of his size. Scouts were asked if it would be a dangerous 5-foot-9 defenseman, even with elite skills, who can handle the pressure of the NHL, heavy weight, and physical protection. Some believe his offense can translate, but few, very few, think he’ll be a top-level NHL defenseman this early in his career.
Today, the doubters feel distant. Hutson almost nailed his narrative and was, arguably, the best pick the Canadiens made in 2022, despite the team holding the same pick in that draft.. Juraj Slafkovsky is an entry pick, but Hutson has always been a gem, the kind of player teams dream of getting outside of the first round.
Hutson’s rookie season charted that trajectory when he captured the trophy he owned, not only to prove he was NHL-level, but to be able to dominate. His influence did not take years to create bodybuilding materials; It was too soon. The Canadiens quickly had a dynamic offensive lineman who could make the power play, pressure the offense with intensity, and make plays that no one else on the roster could duplicate.
In doubt about the size? It’s not worth it. Concerned about visual perception? He was silent. Hutson’s intelligence, work ethic, and stickiness more than compensate for any limitations, and his ability to escape would be the best among the NHL’s young defensemen. What once looked like a risky draft has blossomed into a dynamic home run for the franchise.
What is to come
If these first 100 games are any indication, the Canadiens have a Cornerstone player on their hands, someone who can help define the next era of hockey in Montreal. Hutson is still very early in his development, but he is already playing as someone who controls the rhythm of the game. As he continues to refine his defensive reads, add strength, and gain experience, his ceiling is only going up.
In the structure of the team in the conflict, players like Hutson are important. He is the exact type of today’s Defenseman Defenseman hidden teams: Elite puck skills, elite transition ability, elite offense. Each season, he will take on more responsibility, more minutes, tougher matchups, and a bigger leadership role on the blue line. And with Canadied’s Young Core on fire – Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Noah Caufield, Noah Dobson, and Ivan Demidov – Hutson will be one of the engines driving the forwards.
The milestone is worth celebrating, but it also feels like only the first chapter. Hutson never just arrived; You’re climbing fast. If he continues on this trajectory, his name won’t sit next to Hole in the early books; One day it may be among the most devastating offensive disasters of his time. Hutson’s first plays were electronic. The next 100 would be much better.
