Bobrov on Hutson: 'We have big hopes for him'

MONTREAL -- When three-time Olympic gold medalist, Marie-Philip Poulin, was asked to share her 'Wow' moment from development camp, the play of Lane Hutson was atop the list.

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That shouldn't have come as much of a surprise, though.
The 18-year-old defenseman was outstanding on the South Shore, skating like the wind and making plays like these look so simple and easy.

"The way he moves the puck, the way he sees the game, I was very impressed," said Poulin, a player development consultant, after watching Hutson showcase his talents over three days. "We all know he's skilled and very fast, but he just always competes. You can see it in the backcheck, coming back, he's always first on the puck, he wants to be there, he wants to make a difference. That was very impressive."
The Holland, MI native was a second-round pick (62nd overall) last month following a solid campaign with the U.S. National Under-18 Team.
His 63 points (10 goals, 53 assists) in 60 games were the second-most points by a blueliner in a single season in National Team Development Program (NTDP) history.
Hutson was also named the best defenseman at the 2022 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, helping his countrymen claim silver.
There's no denying that the incoming freshman at Boston University (BU) plays far bigger than his 5-foot-8 and 148-pound frame.
The Canadiens' co-director of amateur scouting, Nick Bobrov, attested to that after the Draft.

"This kid has a big brain. His hockey sense is very interesting. He has a chip on his shoulder that is very real. The size doesn't deter him, and when you meet him, I think you get a sense and a flavor for what's inside. Oftentimes what he does on the ice is highlight-reel material: it's power play, it's thinking, finding seams, finding plays, finding lanes, so you have to go after these types of defensemen because they're hard to find," praised Bobrov. "We have big hopes for him. He'll have plenty of time to develop, and hopefully he'll have a great year. We're excited."
Despite being undersized right now, Hutson is confident that he'll be an effective and productive NHLer down the road.
No doubt fellow Habs hopeful and Terrier, Luke Tuch, will be eager to train alongside him in the BU gym.
"I know I can get bigger, stronger, faster, and even taller, so that's something that will come as I get older. I think either way I'll be able to play the game the way I've been playing," said Hutson. "It's all about how you play the game, not how big you are, but I feel like when you get on the ice, everyone's the same size."
That approach, coupled with his stats and achievements, earned him the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence earlier this summer, which is presented to the Draft prospect best exemplifying commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness and athleticism.
The bottom line is that Hutson knows what works for him on both sides of the puck, and he sticks to it.
"I feel like the way I use my skating and my stick to my advantage, and the way I use my leverage on the bigger guys, it's something I really pride myself on, my defending," mentioned Hutson. "And then I feel like I have that offensive ability to help a team create chances."

Nevertheless, he still foresees making several key improvements to his game in the NCAA ranks.
With that in mind, it'll be interesting to watch Hutson's progression during his freshman year.
"I love to pass the puck, and that's something that I pride myself on, but I feel like if I can develop a shot mentality, it'll keep teams on their heels and it'll make me that much more of a threat offensively," said Hutson. "And then defensively, just kind of closing at the right times. Sometimes, I get excited and I want to close the play right away, but it's about having poise and closing it when you can and when it's smart to close."