Martin St. Louis experienced years of setbacks before the Tampa Bay Lightning decided to give him a chance, leading to a Hall of Fame career.
Standing at just 5 feet 8 inches, St. Louis was often dismissed as too small. The head coach of the Montreal Canadiens takes pride in how his success has opened doors for future players.
The Canadiens beat the Ottawa Senators 4-1 at the Bell Centre on Saturday, improving their record to 2-1. Among the standout players were those who might have been overlooked for their size.
Cole Caufield, also 5-foot-8, scored two goals against Ottawa, bringing his total to four for the season after scoring in all three of Montreal’s games. Although he was named the first star of the game, he chose to highlight rookie defenceman Lane Hutson as the second star.
“It’s impressive how composed he remains in tough situations, even when pressured,” said Caufield. “He always seems in control. We’re fortunate to have him.”
St. Louis praised Hutson’s exceptional ability to deceive opponents.
Hutson, who is just under 5-foot-10 and weighs 162 pounds, broke scoring records for defensemen with the U.S. National Team Development Program and was an All-American for two years at Boston University. He fell to the late second round (62nd overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft due to concerns about his defensive skills.
“People recognized his offensive talent and ability to lead the play, but there were doubts about his defensive capabilities,” St. Louis noted. “He’s showing he can defend effectively and isn’t just a power-play specialist.”
Hutson has been a key part of the top four defensemen, not being on the ice for any of the seven goals the Canadiens have conceded this season. He assisted on Alex Newhook’s highlight goal and has five assists in five games, including a two-game stint last season.
“This season-opening schedule has been a good benchmark for me,” Hutson said, referring to the tough opponents like Toronto, Boston, and Ottawa. “Playing these teams boosts my confidence. It helps me get into a rhythm and continue improving.”
“My game will adapt as needed,” he added. “It’s great that some strategies are working while I also learn what doesn’t.”
Rookie Emil Heineman scored another goal for Montreal just before a power play ended, marking his first NHL goal. The Canadiens, who ranked 27th in power-play efficiency last season, have scored in every game so far this year.
Montreal effectively contained Brady Tkachuk, limiting him to one shot on goal and two blocked attempts. Tim Stutzle netted Ottawa’s only goal, his third of the season.
Sam Montembeault, a contender for a spot on Team Canada for next year’s Four Nations tournament, made 24 saves, improving his record to 2-0.
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