Corey Pronman’s latest 2022 NHL Draft re-ranking has put Lane Hutson right at the center of the conversation, and Canadiens fans have every reason to be thrilled by what it says about Montreal’s draft haul.
Juraj Slafkovsky is still holding the top spot in Pronman’s exercise, remaining the first overall pick in the re-ranking and reinforcing the idea that Kent Hughes and his staff got that decision right.
But the eye-opening move belongs to Hutson. Drafted 62nd overall, the defenseman has surged all the way to third on Pronman’s board, tied with Cutter Gauthier in a tier described as very high-level players who still fall just short of star status.
Sitting ahead of Hutson is Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley, who checks in one place higher after posting 43 points in 54 games. Pronman’s ranking is built around long-term upside, which is why a center like Cooley can land above a defenseman, even one playing as well as Hutson.
That logic may make sense on paper, but it’s still going to fuel debate. Hutson’s importance to the Canadiens right now is obvious, and there’s a strong case that Montreal would take him over Cooley without hesitation.
A center brings obvious value, but Hutson’s current pace has people thinking even bigger. If he keeps this up, there’s a path where he could eventually pass Slafkovsky in the eyes of some evaluators, and that wouldn’t feel like some wild misread in hindsight.
That’s the kind of leap that tells the real story here. Going from 62nd overall to third in a draft re-ranking is a massive validation of the Canadiens’ pick, and another sign that Montreal hit a home run with Hutson.
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