Lane Hutson is set to team up with the Montreal Canadiens to complete the remainder of the season.
The Montreal Canadiens are receiving assistance as they approach the end of the regular season. Highly skilled defenseman Lane Hutson will depart from college to join the Canadiens, finalizing his three-year entry-level contract on Friday.
Following a disappointing loss for Boston University in the Frozen Four semifinals on Thursday, which saw Denver advance to the final, two prospects of the Canadiens—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 continue at BU for another season, he opted to ink a three-year entry-level deal with the Canadiens.
Montreal recently confirmed the signing of Hutson, effective immediately for this season. This means Hutson will join the Canadiens to conclude the season and utilize the first year of his contract. In his sophomore year at BU, he amassed an impressive record of 15 goals and 34 assists, totaling 49 points in 38 games, leading all NCAA defensemen in points alongside Zeev Buium. With an average of 1.29 points per game, he secured a spot among the top-10 nominees for the Hobey Baker Award, an honor his new teammate Cole Caufield won in 2021.
Hutson contributed significantly to Team USA’s World Junior victories, securing bronze in 2023 and gold in 2024, showcasing his defensive prowess, a quality Montreal hopes he’ll bring to their team for years to come.
If Hutson’s performance in the NHL mirrors his success in the NCAA, Canadiens fans are in for an exciting ride. The 5-foot-10, 162-pound defenseman is expected to make his debut on Monday night in Detroit, Michigan, just a short distance from Holland, his birthplace.