Canadiens Need To Take Their Time With Lane Hutson – Hockey Writers – Montreal Canadiens

While this season has not been a pleasant one in Montreal with the now-regular spate of losses and injuries, morale and excitement soared as the new crop of blueliners were given their first taste of NHL action. Lane Hutson appeared in two games, one away and one at home, while Logan Mailloux was listed for the final game. In hockey-mad Montreal, fans ordered their brand new Hutson jersey before seeing him skate live. How should the organization handle the development of a young blueliner next season?

Beware of the Hype

Since Hutson was elected 62 years^n.d overall with the Montreal Canadiens in the 2022 Draft, we’ve seen a lot of reel goals and plays from the 5-foot-10 and 162-pound defensive prospect, maybe even too many. As Hutson looks at those highlights, the truth is, he’s pulling those moves from players his own age or younger, not from seasoned NHL veterans.

Make no mistake, there are big and slow veterans in the league, but there are also new legs and active sticks. Cale Makars and Quinn Hughes of the world will be able to catch Hutson and whether he will be able to beat them if they do remains to be seen.

His height may not be an issue in the NCAA or lower levels, but the NHL is where it matters most. I’m not saying he’ll struggle for sure, but he probably won’t take to the NHL like a fish to water. Granted, he didn’t look out of place in his first two games, but those were meaningless games against the Detroit Red Wings who have already been eliminated. However, when the next season starts, everyone will be in the play-offs again and there will be no more tension.

Brace yourself Canadiens fans, it’s not often we see a blue liner come with this much hype – before going crazy, give him the time he needs to adjust and work on his game. Montreal doesn’t win the Stanley Cup next year and he has plenty of time to grow into a contender, as long as negative expectations don’t overwhelm him.

Will There Be List Spaces Available for Picking Up in Montreal?

The answer to this question depends on several factors. For now, there is conflict on the Canadiens blue line and how general manager Kent Hughes handles the upcoming season will be crucial to being able to answer that question. If, as many expect, the GM leads the six-man hunt using picks and young defensemen as bait, there may be room on the Canadiens blue line.

If that happens, however, it doesn’t mean Hutson will be first in line to fill it. He spent this season in the NCAA and not in the senior ranks while Mailloux spent the rest of the season with the Laval Rocket. The latter worked hard in his defense and enjoyed good progress, until he represented the team in the AHL All-Star Game and formed a duo in the American Hockey League (AHL) with Arber Xhekaj when he was sent to work. his defensive game.

That being said, even if one or more defensemen are traded this summer, there will still be more options than spots and much will depend on whether head coach Martin St. How Louis wants to use his plan. The Canadiens have the luxury of having their farm team far away, so they don’t have to keep an extra blueliner on the NHL roster. If needed, they can just remember someone and look at them in a flash. Wouldn’t it be better for all these young defensemen to play instead of rotating in and out of the lineup? There is an argument to be made there.

Justin Barron will be eligible for waivers next season for the first time, so it won’t be as easy to send him down as it was. Considering he was acquired in return for Arturri Lehkonen, I don’t see Hughes risking losing him to waivers.

Related: Canadiens Can’t Go Hot on Veterans Trade at Deadline

So with veterans Mike Matheson, David Savard, new blueliners Kaiden Guhle, Xhekaj, Barron, Jordan Harris, and Jayden Struble, that’s already seven members of the defense organization. Adding to that Mailloux will be doing his second year of experience which could be a decision that will give him the inside track.

Is the AHL a Possible Place to Help Hutson’s Development?

While for some the AHL is a developmental league, for others it is where dreams come to die for AHLers who have finally realized that they will never make it to the big show at any position forever. When that happens, frustration can boil over and players can turn into headhunters. The big boys enjoy intimidating the rookies and trying to “admit” them to the pros.

Do you think that was only in the “good old days” and it’s not like this anymore? Consider this: on the one hand Hutson and his 5-foot-162 frame, on the other hand, from the Hartford Wolf Pack weighing 241 pounds and standing tall at 6-foot-7: Matthew Rempe! What do you think happens when it hits the former at full speed? Of course, nothing good. Would that be enough of a concern to prevent the Canadiens from sending Hutson to Laval? I don’t think so, but it’s still worth thinking about.

Chances are, however, Hutson would get more ice time and opportunities down the AHL with Laval than he would as part of an NHL trade with the Canadiens. The first year of work experience is an important stage, and taking shortcuts does not help anyone.

When a player is asked to do too much too soon it always seems to come back and haunt him later down the line. Jesperi Kotkaniemi started in the NHL instead of the AHL and that led to a less than ideal development curve. Victor Mete was sent to the deep end by the Canadiens and it sure was too much, too soon. When it comes to player development, I’m a firm believer that the slow and steady wins the race while the fast and moving crash and burn.

There is no rush to get Hutson ready for the NHL, the Canadiens have a few years left to compete so they can take whatever time they need to harvest his talent and potential. Have you ever heard of a hockey player who was the least developed? I don’t think that’s really possible.

When training camp opens this fall, take a deep breath and remember that right now, Hutson is just a kid chasing his pro hockey dream. Give him time to brush his teeth and put on pj’s, the dream will be sweet when he has all the tools he needs.