At 5-foot-9 and 162 pounds, his dog-on-a-bone approach to defence works and his offensive skills make it seem like he’s playing shinny.
The 20-year-old defenseman admits he’s a huge hockey fan and is thrilled that he now has the sport as his sole focus. Hutson spent the past two seasons at Boston University, where he recorded impressive stats of 30 goals, 67 assists, and 97 points in 77 games after being selected by the Canadiens in the second round (62nd overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft.
The Canadiens took a day off in Montreal after their 7-5 win over the Sabres in Buffalo, ending a six-game losing streak. What did Hutson do on his break?
“Not much,” he said during a chat after practice on Wednesday at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard. “Just waited to get back here.”
He added, “I love coming here. Yesterday was a day off, but I couldn’t wait to be back on the ice for practice. It’s a dream come true to be playing hockey every day, and I’m not taking it for granted.”
Heading into this season, there were questions about whether Hutson’s offensive style would translate to the NHL and if he could defend effectively, given his 5-foot-9, 162-pound frame.
Canadiens director of player development, Rob Ramage, was asked about these concerns at training camp in September. His response reflected exactly what has been evident in Hutson’s first 16 games this season:
“Dog on a bone,” Ramage said. “This kid is relentless. He gives 100% every shift, and that effort will help him defensively. Even if he gets beat, he’ll give that second effort to get back into the play and shut it down.”
As of Thursday’s game against the Wild, Hutson hadn’t scored his first NHL goal, but he had 10 assists, ranking fourth among all rookies in points and first among rookie defensemen. He was also averaging 23:14 of ice time per game, the highest among rookies and second only to veteran Mike Matheson on the Canadiens.
When asked what impressed him most about Hutson’s quick NHL adaptation, Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis said, “His compete level. We knew he could compete offensively, but what’s stood out most is his defensive competitiveness.”
Reflecting on Ramage’s “dog on a bone” description, Hutson explained, “It’s a hard league to defend in for everyone. For me, I focus on intensity and pace on the puck, and it’s been working. I’m learning from the whole D core, seeing what works for them and what might work for me.”
Hutson has been one of the few bright spots for the Canadiens this season. His style of play is exciting to watch, and at times he looks like he’s playing street hockey against NHL players — which is remarkable for such a young player.
He admits he wasn’t sure if some of his offensive moves from college would work in the NHL. “You never know, but now that I’m here, I see what works and what doesn’t. I try to be unpredictable in my play and find consistency, so I can perform against top teams every night.”
Growing up, Hutson’s favorite player was Patrick Kane, the No. 1 pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, now with the Detroit Red Wings. At 5-foot-10 and 177 pounds, Kane isn’t much bigger than Hutson, but as a forward, he plays a different game.
“I don’t think he’s been hit in his career,” Hutson said about Kane. “He’s so elusive, not just because of his speed, but his hockey sense, his ability to make tight turns and escape pressure. I watch him closely to learn how different players move and figure out what works for me.”
While hockey is now Hutson’s job, he still treats it as a game he loves.
“It’s supposed to be fun, and right now, I’m enjoying it. I want to keep it that way,” he said.
Canadiens fans are certainly enjoying watching him play.
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