Lane Hutson`s impressive first season in the NHL continues to gain recognition.
The Montreal Canadiens defenseman has been named the league`s Rookie of the Month for March. He earned this honor by scoring 15 points in 14 games during the month, contributing significantly to the Canadiens` push for a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The 20-year-old Hutson was selected over other strong contenders for the award, including Matvei Michkov from the Philadelphia Flyers, Cutter Gauthier of the Anaheim Ducks, and the San Jose Sharks` rookies Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini.
Notably, Hutson and Michkov are the only two rookies to have received the Rookie of the Month award multiple times this season. The last rookie defenseman to achieve this feat was Nicklas Lidstrom in the 1991-92 season.
Hutson is also the first player from the Canadiens to be named Rookie of the Month multiple times since Kjell Dahlin in the 1985-86 season.
Montreal drafted Hutson in the second round in 2022. In March, he led all rookies in average ice time, playing an average of 23 minutes and 22 seconds per game. He also led rookies with six power-play assists and was tied for third in even-strength points with nine.
Hutson, originally from Holland, Michigan, is the top-scoring rookie this season, leading all rookies (forwards and defensemen) with 5 goals and 59 points in 73 games. He is the first rookie defenseman to reach at least 59 points in a season since Nicklas Lidstrom.
With 54 assists this season, Hutson is close to breaking Chris Chelios` record for assists by a rookie Canadiens defenseman. He needs just six more assists to surpass Larry Murphy`s league record for assists in a season by a rookie defenseman.
