The Montreal Canadiens are receiving a boost as they conclude the regular season. Highly impressive defenseman Lane Hutson is leaving college to join the Canadiens, having signed a three-year entry-level contract on Friday.
Following a tough loss for Boston University in the Frozen Four semifinals on Thursday night, and with Denver advancing to the final, two Canadiens prospects—Lane Hutson, a left-shot defenseman known for his offensive prowess, and senior Luke Tuch—became eligible to sign with the team. While Hutson had the option to return to BU for another season, he opted to ink a three-year entry-level deal with the Canadiens.
Montreal has just announced the signing of Hutson, effective immediately this season. This move means that Hutson will be joining the Canadiens to finish the season, utilizing the first year of his contract. During his sophomore year at BU, he amassed an impressive 49 points from 15 goals and 34 assists in 38 games. Leading the NCAA defensemen in points, he shared the top spot with Zeev Buium. With an average of 1.29 points per game, he was also among the top-10 nominees for the Hobey Baker Award, an honor previously won by his new teammate Cole Caufield in 2021.
Hutson played a crucial role in the Team USA World Junior squads, contributing to their bronze medal win in 2023 and their gold medal triumph in 2024, showcasing his defensive prowess. Montreal is counting on him to anchor their defense in the years ahead.
If Hutson can replicate his success from the NCAA in the NHL, Canadiens fans are in for an exciting ride. It won’t be long before we witness his adaptation to the professional league. Standing at 5 feet 10 inches and weighing 162 pounds, the defenseman is expected to make his NHL debut on Monday night in Detroit, Michigan, a city located just a few hours from his hometown of Holland.
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