Lane Hutson: Eric Engels doesn’t think he’s untouchable in Montreal

In the past year, Lane Hutson has won the hearts of Montreal fans. The diminutive defenseman, drafted late in the second round of the last draft (with the pick acquired in return for Brett Kulak) destroyed everything offensively in the NCAA, enjoying one of the best seasons in history for a defenseman his age.If you ask me, it’s still ridiculous thathe wasn’t one of the three finalists for the Hobey Baker Trophy, but I digress.

That said, while some already see him as the CH’s future power-play quarterback, Eric Engels had an interesting comment to make: in his opinion, Hutson isn’t necessarily untouchable in Montreal, even though he’s one of the organization’s brightest prospects.He says as much at the end of this text.

It’s important to note that Engels isn’t saying that the Tricolore intends to store for a defenseman this summer. In fact, he’s not keen to part with him, but at the right price, we’re talking about a guy who could leave.And I’m willing to believe that everyone has a price, but…

If Hutson really isn’t an untouchable in Montreal, the list must be pretty slim. We’re talking about one of the organization’s top prospects filling a need that’s been lingering for years (that of a true power-play quarterback) while the team is rebuilding. By that logic, I see Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovský as the only three definitely untouchables, although Kirby Dach and Kaiden Guhle might be there too. Unless Connor Bedard is involved, that is.

In reality, I’d be genuinely stunned to see Hutson traded this summer. In fact, it would take a substantial return for the Tricolore to be tempted, one that would possibly involve another quality youngster. I think it would take more than a Kirby Dach, because I think young Hutson’s value is greater than Alexander Romanov’s was last year.

It’ll be a case to watch, then, but again, I don’t expect to see him leave this summer. That said, I would have said the same thing about Romanov at this time a yearago…

Prolongation

Speaking of the organization’s young defensemen, Engels also adds in his paper that he expects to see Logan Mailloux playing NHL games next year. He likes what he sees from Mailloux, and from what he hears, the Tricolore development team really likes what they see in terms of his development, both as a player and as a guest.I wonder if he’s seen as more of an untouchable within the organization…