If Lane Hutson comes to finish the season in Montreal, his audition will be short-lived. The Boston University Terriers won 6-3 on Saturday over the Minnesota Gophers in the quarterfinals of the end-of-season NCAA championship.
With this victory, Boston University advances to the Frozen Four, the final four of the tournament, where it will face the Denver Pioneers.
However, the semi-finals will only take place on April 11, and the final on April 13. For its part, the Habs will conclude its season with matches on April 13, 15 and 16. If Hutson does indeed wish to sign a contract with the Canadian, he will not be entitled to the same experience as, for example, Jordan Harris two years ago. The defender was able to participate in 10 CH matches at the end of the calendar.
That said, Hutson could end his first year of contract even if he plays just one game. This is what goalkeeper Charlie Lindgren did in 2016 and Ryan Poehling in 2019, when they joined the Habs. Such a situation is attractive for the player, because it accelerates the negotiation of his next contract.
Hutson continued to make his impact felt for the Terriers in Saturday’s victory. It was he who scored the winning goal, at the end of a dizzying sequence typical of his best moments in the collegiate ranks.
Hutson finished the match with a +3 differential. He now has 49 points, including 15 goals, in 37 games.
Macklin Celebrini, expected by many to be the 1er choice of the next draft, collected three assists in the victory.
PHOTO JOSH JURGENS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Macklin Celebrini
Quebecer Sam Stevens scored a goal for the winners. The victory went to goalkeeper Mathieu Caron, a Franco-Colombian born to Quebec and New Brunswick parents, as we learned from the excellent Nicolas Landry of RDS this week.
Tuch too
Another Canadian hopeful, Luke Tuch, will accompany Hutson in the semi-final. Cleared on Saturday, the giant format attacker, drafted at 2e tour in 2020 by Montreal, is playing his fourth and final season in the university ranks. The Habs have until August 15 to offer him a contract, if the team intends to retain his rights. Tuch scored 28 points (9 goals, 19 assists) in 38 games this season.
PHOTO JESSICA HILL, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sam Harris
Hutson and Tuch will meet another Habs hope in the semi-final. This is Sam Harris, a forward drafted at 133e rank last year. Like Hutson, Harris also scored the game-winning goal in Denver’s 2-1 win over Cornell.
Harris, 20, is finishing his first year at university. He has 20 points (13 goals, 7 assists) in 39 games.
Goalkeeper Jacob Fowler (Boston College) must wait before knowing if he will be CH’s fourth hope at the Frozen Four. Fowler will play his quarterfinal game this Sunday against the defending champions, the Quinnipiac University Bobcats.