MONTREAL— Lane Hutson`s exceptional saucer pass during training camp, a notable play that showcased his unique talent by soaring over opponents and finding Emil Heineman, marked the beginning of what would become his Rookie of the Year journey. It was the first of many highlights demonstrating his distinct abilities throughout the season, from September through May.
Witnessing that specific pass during an early scrimmage at the Montreal Canadiens training camp felt like a significant introduction for Hutson, akin to a “Hello, world” moment signaling his arrival on the big stage.
It`s unlikely Hutson consciously intended that pass to declare his potential Calder Trophy win, but it certainly had that effect, foreshadowing his opportunity to be the first Canadiens player to receive the award since Ken Dryden in 1972.
The rest of the 21-year-old`s performance throughout the season further solidified his candidacy, explaining why he received an overwhelming 165 out of 191 first-place votes from the Professional Hockey Writers Association for the trophy.
Speaking about the honor, Hutson held a virtual press conference on Tuesday from a Boston arena dressing room, roughly ten days after being surprised with the Calder Trophy by his family, friends, and the NHL in his home state of Illinois.
This setting felt appropriate for a player who appears most comfortable and at ease when he`s at the hockey rink.
On this occasion in Boston, he was participating in Bauer Hockey`s annual combine, where, as he put it, he was there “to try out some new skates, sticks.”
Every other instance over the past year, however, saw Hutson at the rink diligently working on the skills that led him to achieve historic milestones in his inaugural NHL season.
His offensive output was remarkable: his 60 assists equaled Larry Murphy`s record for the most by a rookie defenseman in NHL history. His total of 66 points places him fourth all-time for rookie blueliners, trailing only Murphy, Gary Suter, and Brian Leetch.
