Habs Prospects
Top Canadiens Prospect Lane Hutson Signs Entry-Level Contract
There was some very exciting news on Thursday, as the Montreal Canadiens announced they have signed top prospect Lane Hutson to an entry-level contract.
Hutson, 20, played for the Boston University Terriers in the NCAA, producing an impressive 30 goals and 67 assists in just 77 games. This means the defenceman scored 1.26 points per game during his freshman and sophomore seasons.
Lane Hutson has signed his entry-level contract with the #habs after having his NCAA season end with BU. He'll officially join the team in a couple days when it swings through Detroit.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 12, 2024
Why Sign Now?
The signing will allow Hutson to play in one of the final games of the season and consequently, burn a year from his entry-level contract. You may be wondering why the Habs are in a hurry to burn a year off a contract from a player who figures to be a crucial member of the organization throughout the rebuild. In this particular case, it’s a reward for signing the contract early, thus ensuring there’s no risk he will take the same route as former Harvard defenceman Adam Fox.
Fox was originally drafted in the third round by the Calgary Flames, however, he advised the team he was not interested in signing with them, forcing the Flames to trade his rights to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes were also advised Fox was not interested in playing in Carolina, which once again led to a trade, this time to the New York Rangers, his desired team.
The Habs used the same strategy when they signed Cole Caufield and Sean Farrell from the NCAA.
Where Will He Play?
The ELC was signed after March 8, which means Hutson is not eligible to play for the Laval Rocket, either in the regular season or the playoffs.
Seeing as there are just three games left in the Canadiens’ regular season, the options for Hutson’s debut are rather limited. He will either make his NHL debut against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday or the Detroit Red Wings on Monday or Tuesday.
MUST READ: Canadiens Prospect Lane Hutson’s Impact On Lineup And Team’s Future
Keep in mind he’s coming off a very busy year that included participating in the World Junior Championship, where he was named to the tournament’s All-Star Team. On top of the interruption during the Christmas Break, Hutson logged some of the heaviest minutes in the NCAA, as he was Boston University’s go-to play for every single situation, including special teams. He is also fresh off a disappointing 2-1 loss to the University of Denver at the NCAA’s Frozen Four tournament.
With that in mind, Hutson is unlikely to be thrown to the wolves during his NHL debut. Limited usage is in order in his case.
The goal will be to get him acclimated to the team’s style of play, his teammates, the new playbook, the new coach, the new settings, and, well, every other new factor in play now that he’s a professional hockey player.
To get a better idea of the potential impact Lane Hutson will have on the Montreal Canadiens roster, as well as how players like Juraj Slafkovksy will be better off with Hutson in the lineup, you can read our recent analysis of the elite prospect by clicking here.
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In the words of the immortal sports broadcaster, Fred Flintstone, Yaba Daba Doo!!!
Or the beloved song of Fred and Barnie’s Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes, “What’s the matter with Lanestone, he’s all right.”
Oh no, now I’m singing the theme to The Jetsons, lol
Heads up Marc, Hutson played 77 games, not 97. If it was 97, his P/G would be 1.00. 😁
(Delete comment after making the edit)
I have posted this previously, will once again. I know somebody who worked with Hutson and he told me I would be amazed when I saw Hutson play for the Canadiens.
I am skeptical, Hutson is 5′ 10″ in his skates, and maybe 165 lbs fully dressed in his hockey gear. Am doubtful Hutson, right now, can handle the physical play.
I see no problem with letting him play a game and burning a year of his ELC if that’s the price of getting him signed, it’s not like Montreal is going anywhere this season.
Maybe he surprises me, I hope he does. The person I know who worked with Hutson compared him to Quinn Hughes. If he matures into a Quinn Hughes, I will be happy to be wrong.
I recall you posting this information recently. It will be interesting to see him play in the next few days and then to see the assessments of his performances. Like reinbacher when he played his first games in Laval, a few games does not make a career ( well I’d does if those are the only games you ever play lol)so it’s more about the high points than the low. for me from the early audition.
However, let’s say he doesn’t translate at the nhl level. Montreal has a lot of depth on the roster and in the pipeline. Could mailloux be the pp qb? He was great in London and also this year in Laval so he projects to be a good candidate for that role. And if not, matheson fills the role nicely until a suitable replacement is determined which could be several years down the road. The thought here is that if Lane doesn’t become what we hope he will, it doesn’t derail the rebuild. Lot of upside with minimal downside is the way I frame it.
Let’s see what moves the Canadiens make this summer. Maybe the Canadiens package Mailloux in a deal to another club for getting scoring back. Maybe Mailloux is an untouchable, or minimum the team wants to give him a shot to see what he can do playing in the NHL.
No doubt Gorton has a plan he’d like to follow, but if another team absolutely insists on Mailloux, that would force Montreal to move him.
Now the fun starts. This is a consensus top 15 pick in this year’s draft (if he were drafted this year), and some drafts boards have him going around 7-10.
D lines by end of next season:
All #1 picks at the top. Matheson gets traded at the TDL for perhaps another #1 pick.
D looking sharp for years to come. Now just need a couple of snipers on 2nd and third O lines, while expelling Anderson, and Gally, and we are good to go.
I hadn’t read Lane would be ranked that high if he was draft eligible this year but I guess Zeev Buium is and they seem to be contemporaries, although Hutson is smaller. I see Cole Hutson projects as a late first or early second on many lists and I don’t think he is as good as a lane at the same point, so I can see that.
Draft a sniper this year, trade for one in the next 16 months ( sooner is my preference) and sign another as a UFA once you see what you need after the young guys develop a bit more and reveal their probable trajectory.
Making good decisions for the bottom 3 defenseman is important. I pencil The Sheriff in for 1 spot. I don’t know enough about Engstrom to comment but I think Bogdan K has potential to earn a roster spot in a few years. Barron has an enticing skill set so I hope he figures out the confidence piece. What do we get for Savard or MM? Harris, Kovacevic &Strubble all make cases for the bottom of the blue line. Interesting and exciting times as the franchise gets reinvigorated
I think what he must have meant there is that Hutson would have been a top 10 pick in his own draft year had he not been 5’8″ and 140 pounds. We were lucky he dropped, just like we were when Caufield dropped due to size concerns.
I get Hughes kept Savard to help the younger French players like Roy, who said he’s been his most valued teammate thus far, but in keeping him he blocked up the right side now as well as the left. What happens when next year, Barron can’t be sent down unless he clears waivers, or what if Reinbacher or Mailloux are deemed ready at next year’s camp?
Hughes has his work cut out for him this summer, that’s for sure.
Haha yes he’d have gone first ahead of Slafkovsky if he was 6’5 225lbs and maintained his current skill set, but he wasn’t and isn’t and won’t be.
He is an exciting prospect that adds a unique and desirable element to the organization. In todays league, specialists have a place. Used to be fighters but teams like having guys that excel in shootouts or on special teams or overtime etc. while still playing a regular role. He will be asked to provide offence from the backend as his primary contribution while being a reasonable defender. I look forward to his debut and subsequent development next year, hopefully in the NHL
Hughes primary task is adding two high end top 6 forwards. He will draft one so the aquistion of the other is the development of greatest personal interest- I’d like it to occur now later than TDL 2024 but sooner is better. The blieline is also important but I think we have the guys now now will patrol the blue line for many years so it’s development issue and not acquisition. Cap and contract management are also challenges he needs to stay on top of. I d like Slafkovsky to get a long term deal this summer at about 8million for 8 years Xhekaj at 1.67 for 3 years.
I agree with your Farrell assessment. I don’t see a roster spot for him. We have guys like Vinzenz Rowher and guidon, kidney and kappanen and even Mesar and many others that may never fill a need on the nhl roster. So you’re right that Hughes has work to do.
I’d not have signed Farrell this way. Watching him on Laval for 25-30 games this year, he showed some skill, but his size certainly hasn’t done him any favors. His only goal in his NHL games was a weak one, he was the last one to touch it before it trickled in. I’m convinced he has no future in Montréal, as they have enough small guys already. Hopefully Hughes can package him to address other team needs.
Love that Hutson will begin his career very soon. Unlike Farrell, his size is far less a concern, even on defence. Lane has a golden NHL career about to begin, and I for one couldn’t be happier about that.