Lane Hutson

Lane Hutson (born February 14, 2004) is an American ice hockey defenseman for Boston University of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). He was drafted 62nd overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Early years

Hutson first joined USA Hockey's National Team Development Program for the 2020–21 season, enjoying success at that level. The USNTDP strength and conditioning staff worked to address his diminutive frame, and he gained ten pounds between joining the program and the summer of 2022. Over the course of his first professional draft-eligible season, where he continued to excel at the junior level, Hutson became a subject of considerable debate among scouts and evaluators with respect to his suitability for the National Hockey League. 5'8 and 150 pounds at the time of the 2022 draft, both figures unknown among NHL defencemen at the time, many believed he would be unable to translate to the professional game effectively, despite widespread praise for his skill and hockey intelligence. Sportsnet's draft expert remarked "if Hutson was 5-foot-10 today, he would be projected to go inside the top 15 picks of this draft."

Seeking to allay concerns with respect to his size, Hutson arrived at the NHL scouting combine with an endocrinologist report indicating "his bone age is delayed relative to his biological age, which means his frame still has more than a full year of additional bone growth to go." At the 2022 draft in Montreal, Hutson received the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence, awarded by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau to the player who "best exemplifies commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness, and athleticism" He was ultimately taken in the second round, 62nd overall, by the Montreal Canadiens.

Collegiate career

Hutson committed to play college ice hockey for Boston University during the 2022–23 season. During his freshman year he recorded nine goals and a league-high 25 assists in 24 Hockey East games. He became the first defenseman to ever lead Hockey East in scoring. Following an outstanding season he was named a unanimous selection to the All-Hockey East First Team and All-Hockey East Rookie Team. He was also named Hockey East Rookie of the Year, Hockey East Scoring Champion and runner-up for Hockey East Player of the Year. He became the third defenseman to be named Hockey East Rookie of the Year, and the first since Ian Moran in 1992. He was also awarded the Walter Brown Award, as the best American-born Division I men's college hockey player in New England. He became the second freshman to win the award since the award was established in 1953, and the first since Brian Leetch in 1987.

During the championship game of the 2023 Hockey East men's ice hockey tournament, Hutston scored two goals, including the game-winning goal in overtime to help Boston University win the tournament, and receive an automatic bid to the 2023 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament. He was subsequently named to the Hockey East All-Tournament Team and Tournament MVP. With a goal during the regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament against Western Michigan, Hutson surpassed Brian Leetch as the highest-scoring freshman in Hockey East history, a record set in 1987.

Returning to Boston University for the 2023–24 season, Hutson scored his first collegiate hat trick in a November 4 game against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks.

Personal life

Hutson was born to Rob and Julie Hutson. He has three brothers, Quinn, Cole and Lars. Quinn also plays college ice hockey at Boston University.

International play

Hutson represented the United States at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics, where he recorded one goal and one assist in four games and won a silver medal.

The following year, Hutson was named to Team USA for the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he recorded five assists in five games. He rejoined the team for the 2022 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he recorded eight assists in six games and won a silver medal. He was subsequently named the directorate award winner as the tournament's top defenseman, and also part of the media all-star team.

On December 12, 2022, Hutson was named to the national junior team to compete at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. During the tournament he recorded one goal and three assists in seven games and won a bronze medal. Later the same year, he was part of the national senior team at the 2023 IIHF World Championship. During the tournament he recorded two goals and four assists in nine games, as Team USA reached the bronze medal game, but were defeated by Latvia.

On December 16, 2023, Hutson was again named to Team USA's roster to compete at the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and honors

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hutson, Lane
2004 births
Living people
American people of Canadian descent
AHCA Division I men's ice hockey All-Americans
Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey
Ice hockey players from Illinois
Montreal Canadiens draft picks
USA Hockey National Team Development Program players
Youth Olympic silver medalists for the United States