Lane Hutson

Skating:

Skating is one of Lane Hutson’s strongest suits. He is a very quick, fluid and confident skater. Hutson is really mobile in the offensive zone, and can skate out of a phonebooth if needed. His assist in his first NHL game is the perfect example of it. He walks the blueline and quickly darts down the wall. He is fast enough to pinch forward and get back to defend the rush. The greatness of his game all stems from his fantastic skating.

Passing/Handling:

You can hardly ask for a better transitional rearguard than Hutson. The combo of speed, anticipation and passing skill makes him a nightmare to cover. His has fantastic vision and is able to find passing lanes and openings in opposing defenses. Once he builds up speed through his own zone and the neutral zone, he can be very evasive and it just takes one or two well placed dekes for him to cut through the opposition.

Shooting:

The one thing Hutson lacks when you think about offensive defenseman is the big, booming shot. He has a heavy wrist shot, which he is really good at getting through traffic, and placing it where there will be a rebound and it will cause chaos in front of the net.

IQ (Vision, Anticipation, Panic/Poise):

Hutson has a quick mind, whether its in transition or in the offensive zone. He is really good at finding the soft spots in opponents coverage, and loves to creep down on the weak side to open himself to offensive opportunities, or finding passing lanes. He also doesn’t panic easily on the breakout. Physical players can put pressure on him, but he can usually get rid of the puck quick enough to safety.

Forechecking:

Hutson is an offensive-first defender, and will pinch to keep the offensive play alive. He uses his hockey IQ to anticipate plays, and cut off the opposition. He has the speed to cover a lot of ice, and can take some chances and still make it back to defend.

Defense:

Hutson is active in the defensive zone and certainly isn’t a liability, but it definitely isn’t what you look for in his game. Although he has grown inches since being drafted, he is still a small 5’10” and can be pushed around by bigger, physical players. He has an active stick and can predict plays to cut them off, and even shown he can at least handle the physicality of the NHL in his first NHL game by holding off J.T. Compher.

Best Asset:

Hutson has an incredible, dynamic offensive game that if it translates to the NHL, will make him a top play driver from the back end and an offensive force.

Biggest Concern:

The NHL is a big, mean, physical league, and Hutson is a small guy. There is less time and space in the NHL which could limit Hutson’s effectiveness. Injuries and being overwhelmed in his own zone could be a possibility.

Top Tier/Role Potential:

Tier 1 - 50+ Scorer of 40+ scorer with ELITE BASH.

Justification for Top Tier Assessment:

If Hutson hits, we could be seeing a player on the level of Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes. A clear offensive first pairing defender, especially if paired with a more responsible partner to allow him to unlock his full potential.

50th Percentile Tier/Role:

Tier 3 - 30+ point scorer with below average BASH or sub 30 point scorer with above average/elite BASH

Justification for 50th Percentile Tier Assessment:

Hutson is dependent on his offensive game. If it doesn’t translate to the NHL level, Hutson will struggle without a strong defensive game to fall back on. Worst case scenario could see him as a powerplay specialist.

Stylistic Comparable:

Hutson could join the ranks of the recent undersized offensive defenders like Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar.

Scouts Final Thoughts and Additional Stats/Info:

Hutson is well on his way to becoming one of the most dynamic defenders in the league, and its hard to see him missing, especially in the small sample size he has had in the NHL. He is one of the biggest names to keep an eye on in the already stacked Montreal Canadiens defensive system