NHL Network’s next top-20 defensemen list should tell us plenty about how the league views Lane Hutson after a huge sophomore step for the Canadiens blueliner.
The network is set to unveil its Top 20 Defensemen Right Now Rankings on Sunday at 7:00 PM, following last Sunday’s Top 20 Wingers Right Now list. Montreal’s Cole Caufield already checked in at No. 9 among wingers, and Hutson looks like a strong candidate to climb well beyond the 19th spot he held last year.
That earlier ranking was solid for a rookie, but Hutson’s second season made a much louder case. He followed up his first year by piling up 78 points, including 66 assists, and finished third in scoring on the Canadiens. Among NHL defensemen, only Evan Bouchard (95 points), Zach Werenski (81 points), and Cale Makar (79 points) outscored him.
His rookie season had already turned heads. Hutson tied a Larry Murphy record for most assists by a rookie defenseman with 60, a mark set in 1980-81, and he also tied for fourth-most points by a rookie defenseman with 66.
The numbers only tell part of the story. Hutson’s role grew into something far more central for Montreal, especially when the Canadiens needed offense.
He became the guy they leaned on to create a goal, and in his second season he looked more assertive, shooting more and passing up fewer chances to make plays himself. He also finished seventh in the league among defensemen in plus-minus, a stat that doesn’t explain everything but still reflects how often Montreal was on the right side of the scoreboard with him out there.
The playoffs only strengthened the argument for a major jump. When offense was hard to come by, Hutson still produced, tying Nick Suzuki for the team lead with 16 points in 19 playoff games.
So where does that leave him on Sunday? A top-10 placement doesn’t sound far-fetched, and there’s still more growth ahead.
Another name worth watching is Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer. It will be interesting to see whether he lands higher than Hutson’s No. 19 finish from a year ago.
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