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Habs Daily: Demidov Usage, Lane Hutson Excellence, Bad Starts

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Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, highlights, and stories you may have missed on Thursday,

Montreal Canadiens News

Ivan Demidov’s usage in the KHL has been questionable to say the least. But despite the archaic approach in Saint Petersburg, the top Montreal Canadiens prospect is dealing with the unreasonable adversity with maturity beyond his years. [The Silver Lining To Ivan Demidov And His Ridiculous KHL Usage]

For the nth time this season, the Canadiens stumbled out of the blocks. They gifted the Philadelphia Flyers an early lead, and this time around they ran out of gas before mounting a comeback. Several players struggled in the loss. More accurately, almost everyone but Lane Hutson looked terrible on Thursday night. Hutson registered his 50th and 51st assist of the year in the disheartening 6-4 loss. [Habs Highlights: Another Embarrassing Start Hurts Playoff Odds]

Speaking of Hutson, not only did he put together another multipoint effort, he was also the best player when it came to his on-ice impact.

There’s still a pretty good chance Hutson can tie, or even pass Larry Murphy’s record-setting rookie season. For what it’s worth, Murphy had three players who scored more than 100 points in his lineup, whereas the Habs only have one player who has scored more than 70 points this season (Nick Suzuki), connoting Hutson’s offensive potential is yet to be established. A little more talent up front would lead to a lot more production on the back end.

We should also note the graphic tweeted by Mike Kelly at 4:55 pm ET is already considerably out of date. With 5 goals and 51 assists to his credit, Hutson is now on pace for a 6-goal, 59-assist season.

This is now a Lane Hutson praise thread, which means it’s time for another fun Hutson fact!

Unsurprisingly, Hutson hit the nail on the head when discussing the team’s biggest issue at the moment.


National Hockey Now Network

The Philadelphia Flyers and general manager Daniel Briere shockingly decided to fire head coach John Tortorella on Thursday, with just nine games remaining in the season. And then what happened? [Philadelphia Flyers]

For a guy who’s grown up in an era of MP3s and Spotify, evidently Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond knows what it sounds like when the record’s stuck. And boy, is his team ever stuck in a bad groove. [Detroit Red Wings]

Greatness recognize greatness. Washington Capitals megastar Alex Ovechkin made sure he and his teammates feted goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury Thursday at the end of a game in which the Capitals lost and Fleury didn’t even play. [Pittsburgh Penguins]

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Dana

Is anyone in the nhl better at shoulder fakes than Hutson? His deception package- head, shoulders, stick handling and directional maneuvers- are as good as it gets. Can you imagine if he had mcdavid or mackinnon speed?!! The things he does in a phone booth are on another level beyond either of the top 2 Hughes boys or Makar Marner or Kaprizov, Kucherov or Pasternak. To my eye, he’s the best already at dekes and fakes . I wrote on this site last season after tge 2 Detroit games at my awe at what I saw- new amazing, mesmerizing things – and I’m a long term fanatic in my 60’s. So despite some holes that will fill in with experience, he’s the biggest impact rookie- not only this season- but in years.

Great point about the Murphy environment with 3- 100 point guys that aided his production. I’m on record as saying Suzuki has 100 point peak potential as his surrounding cast improves. What is the Lane Hutson ceiling? A point per game hardly seems his limit. Take out the 2 points in 9 game stretch in late January early February ( he hit the rookie wall) and he’s.9ppg this season. 90 seems realistic and 100 a stretch goal but as the team becomes a top offensive team, he will get cheap points. I also woukd consider using him for the full powerplay, like Suzuki, he has a great engine.

PK was an exciting rookie, and Richer was electric with tge blazing speed and hands, Naslund was a beauty as was Saku – but Hutson is my choice for most exciting rookie Hab skater since 1970 when I started following the team. He’s a star now and a superstar of the not too distant future.

And I still maintain that we should have drafted his brother Cole.

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Marc Dumont

I think it’s reasonable to suggest Hutson can (and probably will) eventually hit 80 points, perhaps as quickly as next year if the sophomore slump doesn’t take hold.

90 is not out of the question, but it’s not a guarantee either with the current forwards. He’ll need someone like Demidov to start capitalizing on all those chances he sets up.

As for 100, this may seem incredibly arrogant, but I don’t think it’s out of the question either. Obviously it won’t be easy, but not only are his teammates improving, so is he, which stands to reason there’s a chance he will one day hit 100. Karlsson was the last one to do it IIRC, and it was Brian Leetch before him.

Hutson’s rookie year is reasonably similar to Leetch’s in terms of overall production. Leetch scored more goals in the highest-scoring era of the league, whereas Hutson is providing more assists.

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Dana

100 is a long shot but they we are conversing about it at all for a rookie dman ( and the smallest player in the league too) is surreal since you stated the last 2 times over the last 2 decades. Makar hasn’t done as incredible as he is, so Lane likely won’t but I’ll enjoy watching it play out.
Yes Demidov will help team O, and I expect we will see Hughes make a deal or sign a guy to elevate the top 6. Laine can play there so add Demidov and one more and we are rostered up We have riches of bottom 6 forward depth and the D as a group will get better as well when Reinbacher arrives but Hutson will be the guy back there. He played 28:40 last night!!

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Stephen

It’s not just bad starts It’s giving up goals in the last minute of a period. It’s another “theme”

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