Canadiens Apparently Still Have Special Defense in Goalless Hutson – Hockey Writers – Montreal Canadiens

Rookie linebacker Lane Hutson may be getting bitten, given his lack of scoring. However, no one in or around the Montreal Canadiens organization should be complaining. That goes beyond the fact that the Habs last place has more to worry about than individual stats for one player. Well, it goes beyond the fact that Hutson is second in rookie scoring with 19 assists in 28 games. It shows more how Hutson offers other ways to justify his ice time.

And, while there was some doubt that the Canadiens would follow through on media promises to give the 20-year-old enough ice time, true to their word. Hutson played the second-highest 22:54 per game on the team, mostly matched by veteran David Savard, coach Martin St. Louis trusted him a lot.

Hutson vs. Slavkovsky

A perceived lack of use could have kept Hutson in the American Hockey League this season. Look at how third-year forward and former first overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky's rookie season went as reason for any such concern. As well documented, Slafkovsky played 30th at 12:13 per game in 2022-23, below the likes of Jesse Ylonen, Rem Pitlick and Chris Tierney, none of whom are now Habs.

Slafkovsky finished his injury-shortened campaign with four goals and six assists in 39 games, prompting criticism that he should play in the AHL in his second season. There is enough evidence for a strong argument that he should have started his career in the AHL and worked his way up to the Canadiens. Considering that defenders traditionally take a long time to develop, Hutson should have been destined for the minors as well, until he proves that he has eaten the Laval Rocket, either for the whole season or after a few games.

Related: No Good Reason for Canadiens to Make a Run for Slafkovsky in the NHL

Apparently, the Canadiens went against the grain to keep him, much to the delight of many Habs fans. To be fair though, there may have been at least some interaction with fans congratulating Guillaume Latendresse on making the team as a newly formed 18-year-old in 2005. the development of prospects, because there is such a thing as ruining that development if they are rushed to the NHL too soon. Latendresse only ended up on the show the following season, but even then she may have used more seasoning, based on her low production rate. Although Hutson is goalless, that doesn't seem to be the case here.

Obviously, the Canadiens have the right to discredit Hutson if they encounter obstacles along the way. There are no guarantees that they won't land somewhere. Considering they kept Slafkovsky in his prime, there's at least a good chance Hutson will stick around, no matter what. However, based on Hutson having set several records for the Canadiens, it is becoming increasingly unlikely that they will ever face such a decision anyway.

Hutson Breaks Chelios' Record

Hutson has already become the first 20-year-old Canadiens defenseman to score in four consecutive games. A few days later, he passed Chris Chelios, who had scored in six straight games on two separate occasions in 1984-85, as the longest hitting streak by a Habs rookie defenseman (seven).

All of these are indications that Hutson, even if he has not scored a goal so far, is not only the finalist but has already become part of the team. The future can only blossom as he grows to prove himself as the team's best running back defender, probably for years to come. This happens in a logical way. It's probably no coincidence that he's scored three points on the power play, which he's already been good at, clicking at 22.1%, where, even in the year the Canadiens go to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2021, it was only 19.2. %. The last time it was this high (overall season) was 2007-08 (league best 24.1%). Of the Canadiens' top scorers so far this season, Hutson is the only new addition that has ties to last season.

What's another clue: In terms of shooting attempts on the ice (Corsi), Hutson is the only Caandiens defenseman to hit 50% (even). He's also the Habs' top defenseman in expected on-ice goal percentage (48.4%, stats via MoneyPuck.com). On a young, defensively struggling team, it all speaks volumes for his ability to drive the ball.

None of this is controversial or news to Canadiens fans. If they were to check social media (at their peril) to see how fans of other teams view Hutson, they would find arguments that his inability to score so far is not a cause for concern but a cause for laughter. . It's becoming increasingly clear that those gaps are more a reflection of coping than anything else. Hutson obviously isn't a star now or anything. However, even the mere thought of what he can do one day, one day, seems impressive, often without notice. Hutson may be living in the minds of some Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs fans for free.

Wow.

A goalless Hutson continues to defy the odds

They may point to the former St. Louis Blues defender Tom Tilley, for example. A rookie in 1988-89, he notched 22 assists in 69 games to score his first of 70 and last goals of that season. He would only play 174 games in total.

They might also point to former Chicago Black Hawks defenseman Keith Magnuson, who went completely scoreless as a rookie, with 24 assists, in 1969-70. Of course, the validity of any criticism directed at Hutson in that is increasingly laughable as Magnuson, never a “star,” ended up playing for more than 10 years, several as team captain. So, would they be arguing that there is a chance that Hutson may never be a great player, but can develop into an effective defender?

Wow. Call the fire station.

Remember, Magnuson's skill set was different than Hutson's. With 1,442 penalties per minute, the former were unable to score a significant point total. So, it's like comparing apples to oranges, with Hutson slated to go 62nd in 2022 based on his high potential. He fell all the way, due to his lack of size at 5-foot-9, 162 pounds. In contrast, Magnuson was never drafted, signing as a free agent after a successful career at the University of Denver Collegiate. Tilley was a 10th-round pick in 1984. So, compared to Hutson, nobody really had the pedigree of game-breaking talent.

Of course, some might say that Hutson's lack of goals so far is a sign that he won't make it. However, the fact that he made it as a small defenseman and found success, even if critics choose to admit it, is instead a sign that he is a long-term NHL defenseman.

Hutson may not score a single goal this season. If he doesn't, he'll still be on pace to break the record set by former Leafs defenseman Jim Thomson, who had just 29 assists in a record non-scoring season in 1947. -48.

Not that it matters much, considering where the Canadiens are in their rebuild, but the Leafs won the Stanley Cup that season. Thomson also won four in his career, going on to play nearly 800 games. Therefore, Hutson continuing this step is not far from the case of his talent. It would be further proof of his tenacity that he has defied the odds so far. And if (when) he scores in the end? All it will do is dispel any biased illusion that Hutson is ineffective offensively.

The Canadiens win either way. Again that they must really upset them.