After the conclusion of the NCAA season on Saturday, April 13, several promising college players are transitioning to the professional ranks for the upcoming season.
In a proactive move, the Montreal Canadiens have secured defenseman Lane Hutson by signing him to a three-year, entry-level contract. The contract values at 2.85950K, as reported by PuckPedia.
Kent Hughes, the General Manager of the Canadiens, officially confirmed the deal on April 13. Hutson is set to promptly join the team in Detroit and is anticipated to make his debut with the Habs during Monday’s game.
Chosen as the 62nd overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft, Hutson is regarded as the top prospect in the Montreal Canadiens’ development pipeline, as per insight from Scott Wheeler of The Athletic. Standing at 5-foot-10 and weighing 161 pounds, this promising defenseman will depart Boston University prematurely to potentially make a swift entry into the Canadiens’ lineup before the conclusion of the current season.
Lane Hutson from the Canadiens is anticipated to make his first appearance in this season.
Hutson’s contract signing enables him to take part in at least a portion of the Montreal Canadiens’ remaining three games in the regular season. Nevertheless, this utilization will activate the initial year of his three-year entry-level contract.
In making this choice, the Canadiens are acknowledging Hutson’s skills while also acknowledging the need to revisit contract negotiations by the conclusion of the 2026 season, where Hutson will transition into the offseason as a restricted free agent.
Before the NCAA’s Frozen Four concluded on April 13, Hutson expressed to TSN, ‘Some of the smartest fans in the world. I love how they are really competitive, too. To be able to play in front of those fans someday would definitely be a goal of mine. And something that I can look forward to.’
With Hutson’s arrival, Montreal’s defensive lineup shows promise for the future, despite not being fully developed yet. Another notable prospect in their farm system is defenseman David Reinbacher, ranking as the second-best prospect.
The Canadiens recently reassigned Reinbacher to their AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket, on March 18, following his stint with HC Kloten in Switzerland.
Lane Hutson participated in the 2024 Frozen Four representing Boston University.
Throughout the current season at Boston University, the 20-year-old Hutson tallied 15 goals and 49 points across 38 games. He earned a nomination for the Hobey Baker Award for the second year in a row, but the award ultimately went to top prospect of 2024, Macklin Celebrini.
Hutson served as an alternate captain for Team USA during the 2024 World Junior Hockey Championships held in Sweden. Engaging in 7 games, he provided 6 assists but didn’t score any goals, aiding in the USA’s gold medal triumph against the hosts on January 5.
Throughout his two seasons with the Terriers, Hutson registered 30 goals and 97 points over 77 games. He earned recognition as a First-Team All-American in the 2023 season and became the first freshman recipient of the Walter Brown Award since Brian Leetch in 1987.
Moreover, Hutson has represented Team USA in five youth tournaments, contributing 1 goal and 23 points in 25 games.
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