Maxime Talbot : “Hutson is already in my top-5 of the best defensemen in the league”

If the 2022 draft were to be redone, there is one thing that is certain and sure.

Lane Hutson would clearly not be selected with the 62nd overall pick in the draft.

The defenseman is in his first full season in the National Hockey League and he is already the 3rd best scorer of his draft class. Only Juraj Slafkovsky (101 points) and Logan Cooley (94 points) are above him in that regard…

There are several experts and analysts who did not necessarily believe that Hutson would dominate quickly in the National Hockey League because of his size.

Because it is true that smaller defensemen often have trouble making the transition in a physical league like the National Hockey League… but that is clearly not the case with the Canadiens’ defenseman.

Hutson is so good that Maxime Talbot (NHL.com) puts him in his top-5… of the best defensemen in the league:

I would take Lane Hutson ahead of 98% of National Hockey League defensemen, even at just 20 years old. He is already in my top five of the best defensemen in the league. – Maxime Talbot

It has been a long time (since P.K. Subban?) since we have seen a defenseman with talent like Hutson in Montreal.

When you see him make sequences like that, you realize just how good he is:

Incase you forgot, Lane Hutson is HIM. pic.twitter.com/YDmmRto3uy

— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) March 19, 2025

If we take into account all aspects of the game (and not just offense), I may not be ready to say that Lane Hutson is one of the five best defensemen in the league.

But he has what it takes to be part of that category one day.

It’s crazy, too, when you think about it: the Canadiens had the chance to select him in the second round… and now we’re talking about him as one of the best players in the National Hockey League.

He is in the running for the Calder Trophy, he is tied (with Josh Morrissey) for 5th place for the best scorers at his position in the National Hockey League, and he is only 21 years old.

The Canadiens have a real gem in their hands.

And that’s a good thing!

Overtime
– I love it.

Discover the logo created by Frank Polson for the Indigenous Peoples’ Celebration Evening on Saturday, presented by CN in collaboration with Tim Hortons

Read ↓ #GoHabsGohttps://t.co/SZTO3dxeHo

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 21, 2025

– Well done!

The Timra club where Oliver Kapanen plays in Sweden won their first game of a 4 out of 7 series against Frolunda today. Timra is considered the underdog in the series but managed to take the first game 4-2. Kapanen completed the scoring in an empty net.

— Anthony Marcotte (@anthonymarcotte) March 21, 2025

– Absolutely.

Gervais: Habs are good outside their comfort zone https://t.co/MxLRm9bXxb

— TSN 690 Montreal (@TSN690) March 21, 2025

– Note:

Injured in the pelvis, Stephen Curry will miss at least one gamehttps://t.co/Cv8IjZRCVt

— RDS (@RDSca) March 21, 2025