Lane Hutson has yet to score this season

Let’s take a look at the list of players who didn’t score often this season for the Canadiens.

Among the forwards, the names Kirby Dach and Juraj Slafkovsky, who have just one goal apiece since the start of the campaign, quickly come to mind. Here are two who need to score more often.

Will they? We think so.

But two names that come to mind first are Lane Hutson and Mike Matheson. The two guys, who are the club’s offensive engines, have yet to find the back of the net.

The two defensemen have 10 assists each (including six on the powerplay for Matheson and four for the rookie) this season in 16 games, but no goals to their name.

Should we be concerned that both players have yet to find the back of the net? After 16 games this season, or about 20% of the campaign, it’s fair to wonder, yes.

But just because they suck doesn’t mean they can’t score, so it’s not the end of the world. After all, they still manage to generate offense.

Lane Hutson on the 1st powerplay and Caufield scores his 11th!

: RDS pic.twitter.com/Y1Z9iwTMnN

– RDS (@RDSca) November 11, 2024

But still: they must be looking forward to scoring.

You can tell Lane Hutson, who has never scored in the Bettman Tour, that he’s among the most productive rookies in NHL history in terms of assists in his first 18 NHL games, but he probably can’t wait to score goals.

Contributing a couple of helpers in his @CanadiensMTL 7-5 win against the Sabres earlier today, 20-year old rookie defenseman Lane Hutson is now up to 10 assists through 16 games this season. With 12 in his first 18, he sits behind just 6 others on this list of playmaking starts pic.twitter.com/mo4hxoEUpc

– StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) November 12, 2024

What this tells me is that the defender, as we can see, needs to improve the quality of his shot. We already knew that, but there’s more evidence of that in light of what we’ve seen over the past month.

We’re sure he’ll never have the range of Shea Weber, but still: he’s got to be better.

“One of the toughest defensemen to ever play the game.”

Shea Weber, welcome to the @HockeyHallFame!

More from @NHLdotcom https://t.co/aHAxcS9q45 pic.twitter.com/tjUeaJPJrC

– NHL (@NHL) November 10, 2024

The good news? Hutson is playing well on the ice, developing and has the confidence of his coaches. He’s the third-highest scorer in his draft class (2022) so far this season, behind Slaf and Logan Cooley… who each have just one more point than him. #11

That’s all there is to it.

Lane is on the right track, then. But even if the Habs want to develop, the NHL is still a results league and Hutson will have to find the back of the net sooner or later.

And if he does, watch out for the Calder.

It’s probably early to talk about it, but as it’s a rare bright spot in the #CHsseason… quick question about the race for the Calder Trophy.

The 3 leaders in this race: Logan Stankoven, Matvei Michkov and Lane Hutson.

Stankoven has 13 points in 14 games as… pic.twitter.com/1Rwnwu9m63

– Marc-Olivier Beaudoin (@MOBeaudoin1) November 12, 2024

Overtime

– Paul Maurice in interview.

What fuels the Panthers now that they’ve lost their ‘angst’? In my latest for@TheAthletic, sat down with Paul Maurice who was terrific in this interview. Enjoy! https://t.co/hAAEaG8fzN

– Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) November 12, 2024

– Nick Suzuki must always be the one who works the hardest on the ice, to set an example.

Eric Engels on Nick Suzuki:

“Sometimes you tell yourself you’re working really hard but, there’s always another level to get to. And I think Nick did that today, I think he got to that other level “#GoHabsGo #thesickpodcast @TonyMarinaro @EricEngels pic.twitter.com/NzwOLwHc1D

– The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) November 12, 2024

– Hall of Fame: to induct an incumbent or not? [BPM Sports]

– What do you think?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jay on SC (@jayonsc)