To say “impressive” when it comes to CH Lane Hutson’s hope seems like an understatement these days.
At just 18 and in his first-ever season in the NCAA, the defenseman is one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Trophy, awarded annually to America’s top varsity player. It is big. Very large.
Most recently, the youngster accumulated his 47th point (14 goals, 33 assists), a point that allowed him to join Brian Leetch in the list of the most prolific Under-19 defensemen in NCAA history in a single season. In other words, it flies over the circuit.
But some people, perhaps motivated (or demotivated!) by the Habs’ low success rate in terms of recruitment for 20 years, are constantly bringing back a framework via social media that “we can’t get carried away with Hutson because he’s still has to prove a lot and has shortcomings.
During an appearance on “JiC”, the journalist Anthony Martineau, who is mainly tasked with reporting and analyzing the club’s hopes, expressed his dissatisfaction with this issue quite clearly.
Watch the full segment in the main video.
In response to a viewer asking what he thought of Hutson, Martineau didn’t mince words.
“I’m using this forum to denounce something that being a good Quebecer annoys me. In Montreal we seem to have a popular syndrome that makes us believe that it’s impossible to design a guy and that he’s going to be good, that he’ll excite fans. There is always a “yes, but”.
“Listen to me: no, Lane Hutson is not perfect. But he is now the all-time NCAA record for under-19 defensemen in offensive production. Will he be Cale Makar or Adam Fox? I don’t know. What I do know, however, is that his name is Lane Hutson and he gives us every reason to be excited.”
The journalist continued in one and the same impulse.
“He is dynamic, fast and has an elite vision of the game. But most importantly, he knows how to be decisive when it counts. Hutson is currently third overall in the NCAA with five game-winning goals. The last CH backer who knew how to get up in the big moments and most importantly who loved doing it was PK Subban. I want to be clear: we have the right to be happy to count on him in our bank of hopes! We have a right to be excited,” the reporter pounded out again.
immune deficiency?
Very often the main negative comments about Hutson are aimed at his defensive performance.
Anthony Martineau and presenter Jean-Charles Lajoie answered the question precisely at the end of the segment.
“Grant McCagg, the former Canadiens scout, recently posted a very insightful tweet about this,” Martineau continued. He reported that Hutson has had just two goals for opponents on the ice in his last seven games, including several very important ones. It speaks that.
“And while that doesn’t say everything, his +24 differential is the best on his team and seventh in the entire NCAA. Does he still have work to do defensively? Surely! But really not enough for people to keep using it to spit on some madness that needs to be real at the end of the day.
The last word went to “JiC”.
“Lane Hutson still has the puck! And if you have the puck, you still can’t get scored. Lane Hutson will no doubt be a Montreal favorite, and soon.
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