Canadiens’ Lane Hutson rookie season was something to behold

Lane Hutson’s rookie season was one for the ages.

The Montreal Canadiens’ defenseman recorded an assist Wednesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes, helping the Canadiens earn a 4-2 win and clinching their first playoff birth since 2021. The assist was also his 60th of the season, tying Larry Murphy’s NHL record for the most assists by a first-year defender.

The win over the Hurricanes sets up a first-round series matchup for the Canadiens against the Washington Capitals, who won the Metropolitan Division and are the top-ranked team in the Eastern Conference. Now fans and pundits alike are wondering if this Montreal group, led by Hutson and other young stars like Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, can produce an upset for the ages over a veteran Capitals squad.

On Thursday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk discuss the Canadiens’ bursting on to the NHL playoff scene and what Hutson has brought to this young Montreal group.

Frank Seravalli: This Montreal Canadiens have a playoff-ready offense. They do. Now add in a player like Ivan Demidov at the end of the year, who is a high-end talent player, and they’re suddenly a live dog in Round 1.

Their issue had been on defense, then you bring in someone like Lane Hutson, who helps transition the puck the other way. He’s not going to win the Norris Trophy on the back of his play in his own end in his first season, but that doesn’t matter. What he’s brought to the table has helped solidify that position.

This Canadiens team has energy, it has momentum, they got mojo, and they’re a team that, I think, is going to be an interesting one to watch right now.

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…