The Shooting Lane?
Lane Hutson Hones His Craft, Adding a New Weapon to His Arsenal.
You Bet On Character
When a young man shows up armed with “an endocrinologist report” at an NHL Draft Combine you can look at it a few different ways. I’d venture to say that most people would laugh or shrug it off, but if you were to really think about it, what drives a person to do something like that? It’s not exactly normal. If it was, you wouldn't be reading about it, would you? Well, this is exactly what Lane Hutson did at the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo in 2022.
NHL D-men were big, rugged, strong and ideally, at least 6’0 tall. Scouts, when assessing a player who has all the tools and a big frame with room to fill out, often hold these players in high regard. They’re the players who get picked off in the first round of any draft. They see a player that can play hockey AND withstand the long, gruelling grind of an NHL season. They see a player who can become the very backbone of a team and carry them through the playoffs. Well, what did they see in Lane Hutson? Lane, with 148 lbs encompassing his 5’8 frame, did not necessarily fit the mould. He was a damn good hockey player, but he was small. Too small? Well, many scouts at the time struggled with this. Was Lane Hutson too small for the NHL or was he dynamic and shifty enough that it wouldn’t be an issue? Every scouting report I read mentioned his size as a red flag, but also recognized the elite skill set.
“His lack of size and strength could hold him back at the NHL level, even if his skating and hockey sense are elite.”
-Dobber Prospects
“He is so dynamic that he could be a big miss for a team that passes on him because of his size”
-McKeen’s
Players know their skill set and they know their weaknesses. In today’s world, they have access to top of the line coaching, videography, advanced stats and an abundance of online material critiquing and praising their every move. It’s everywhere! Professional athletes are highly motivated individuals who are hardwired to improve. They eat, sleep and breathe their game. It’s what makes them who they are. It’s why they earn the money they earn and why people pay big money to see that talent live. Lane Hutson is no different, and you can imagine that leading up to the draft he was likely seeing the reports about him. Everyone praised his skating, hockey IQ, vision, playmaking, and edgework. All of these were within his control, He could work on and develop these. He had one red flag; his size. What does a highly motivated teenager who can envision that the one thing he can’t change could be the very reason his dreams of playing in the NHL may not happen? For Lane, it was to hire an endocrinologist to provide him with a report stating that in short says, he’s not done growing. Lane showed up at the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo armed with that document so he could defend his one red flag with cold hard data. It’s an unprecedented move and an admirable one at that. It ultimately speaks to his willingness to go that next level and do what it takes to get what he wants. From that viewpoint, in regards to NHL qualities, that’s one that goes a long way. It speaks to his drive. When everything is on the line, you can ensure that he will be the one to lay it all out there.
“A report from Hutson’s endocrinologist indicated his bone age is delayed relative to his biological age, which means his frame still has more than a full year of additional bone growth to go. ‘
‘It’s just something I thought I’d share with them,’ Hutson said. ‘And they’re like, “Oh, that’s good, we’re glad you came prepared.” I think every question in the room is usually about my size, it’s the obvious thing. But I’m not too worried either way.’”
The Montreal Canadiens Are Proud to Select
The Montreal Canadiens picked Lane Hutson 62nd overall at the 2022 NHL Draft in the second round. Drafting at home in Quebec, the Habs picked Juraj Slafkovsky first overall and blew the roof off the building by trading Romanov to Long Island for the 13th Overall selection and flipping that pick to Chicago for Kirby Dach. ←Link Here. Many teams felt that Hutson had the skill set to get picked in the first, but the size factor held many GMs back from pulling the trigger. Hutson fell to the second where it was more palatable to take a small swing for high upside. The Canadiens, being in the midst of a rebuild, had the unique ability to slowly develop their prospects properly in the minors. It was a no-brainer.
Hutson followed up his draft year with 1.23 and 1.29 Pts/GP respectively in the NCAA before making his debut with the Canadiens at the end of the 2023/24 season. It was a small sample size but one that brought optimism to Habs fans, who much to their disappointment, had to wait for an entire offseason to see what Hutson had to offer. In 2024/25, the Hutson show began, although a little slowly at first. Coach Marty chose to ease the freshman in, deploying him in mainly offensive zone starts and lower down in the lineup. As the season wore on, there was no easing him in any longer. Hutson burst through the gates, snagging a unit one power play spot and gaining the respect of his coaches and teammates. He quickly became one of Montreals most utilized weapons, making history along the way. His 60 assists were the most by a rookie defenceman in a season, tying Larry Murphy (1980-81) for the NHL record. He was the first rookie defenseman to hit the 50 assist mark in a season in 38 years. His 66 points ranks him fifth all time in rookie defensemen point totals (tied with Phil Housley). He later won the Calder Trophy for NHL’s best rookie. It’s safe to say that the small swing has produced big upside.
Raising the (Already High) Bar
As I’ve previously stated, many scouts’ knock against Lane Hutson was his size. The other one, not as often mentioned was his shot. This is something I repeated to myself and other fans numerous times last season. “If Lane can improve his shot, he’ll be unstoppable”. I believe that wholeheartedly . This is a personal opinion, I know, but, I think that Hutson’s biggest knock against him is not his size at all. He’s been small his entire life. He’s excelled at every level he’s ever played at with that smaller frame. Smaller guys have a lower centre of gravity and learn to use leverage to outmuscle larger opponents at a young age. It’s not new to them; they adapt. As much as there are many disadvantages to being a smaller player in the NHL, there are also advantages that get overlooked. Hutson’s speed and maneuverability are some of his strongest assets. He is able to change direction in a split second and often at a faster pace than most other players in the league. His smaller stature allows him to move at that pace. Pair that with his ability to see the game two or three steps ahead and you have someone who, despite their size, actually has an advantage to work with. I truly believe Hutson’s shot is his weak link, but it’s improvable. If you’ve followed him throughout the offseason, you’d see that, well… he doesn’t really have an offseason. Hockey is his entire personality and he’s clearly a guy that wants to improve in all facets and be one of the best to lace up a pair of skates. There are numerous clips of him working his shot this summer and I’ve actually noticed quite an improvement myself. It’s noticeable on screen. If it’s able to translate to on-ice production this season then the whole league should be on notice. Having a mentor in Patrik Laine may also help out...just a little.
The passing is ELITE. The skating is ELITE. If the shot gets dialed in this season, well… the NHL is going to have a Lane Hutson problem! What do you guys think?
OH, and one more thing. If you were wondering… Hutson is now 5’10, 163 lbs.