For as long as we’ve been talking about it, it’s now a fact, according to hockey insider Elliotte Friedman: Lane Hutson will finish the season with the Canadian.
The elimination of the Boston University Terriers on Thursday in the semifinals of the NCAA season-ending championship ended his collegiate season. According to local media, the general manager of the Canadian, Kent Hughes, also went to Minnesota to attend the match. It should be noted that Hughes’ youngest son, Jack, also wears the Terriers colors.
By playing at least one match between now and the end of the season, Hutson will be able to complete the first year of his entry-level contract, as Ryan Poehling did before him in 2019 and Charlie Lindgren in 2016. More recently, Jordan Harris and Cole Caufield had also done this, but they had arrived at the Habs earlier in the calendar; they each had time to play 10 matches in the season.
In doing so, Hutson will therefore be able to sign his second contract more quickly, at the end of the 2025-2026 season.
Hutson arrives after a storied collegiate career at Boston University. In two seasons, the athlete totaled 97 points in 77 games. Both times, he was one of 10 athletes nominated for the Hobey-Baker Trophy, awarded to the NCAA player of the year. However, he was never one of the three finalists.
He was also named to the Hockey East division first all-star team both years.
Hutson also competed in the last two World Junior Championships, helping the United States win gold this year and bronze last year. He also played in the Senior World Championship in 2023.
His offensive capabilities therefore leave no doubt. However, questions will remain about his defensive game, particularly because of his size. According to the latest data from Boston University, Hutson weighs 162 lbs. In the NHL this season, only three players are underweight, all forwards. Among defensemen, Jared Spurgeon of the Wild is the only one under 170 lbs, at 166 lbs.