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Advanced stats: the Hutson/Struble pair is among the elite of the NHL
Félix Forget
Advanced stats: the Hutson/Struble pair is among the elite of the NHL
Credit: Getty Images
This season, we’re talking a lot about Lane Hutson’s impact on the Habs, and for good reason. The defenseman, who is approaching the record for most assists in a season by a rookie defenseman, has made a difference in town… and it’s no wonder that Kent Hughes hopes Ivan Demidov will have a similar impact next season.

Because the #48 is impressing his GM… and it goes far beyond his 53 points in 67 games.

That being said, even if we’re talking a lot about the rookie, there’s another defenseman who’s impressing in town right now… and we’re talking about Hutson’s partner on the blue line, Jayden Struble.

At the start of the season, Struble was more often than not in the stands. He had even been to Laval in January for a conditioning stint, and it was Kaiden Guhle’s injury that had forced the Habs to recall him.

Now, what we’re noticing is that Hutson and Struble have been playing together for a while… and the results are extremely interesting. In fact, according to MoneyPuck’s numbers, the Hutson/Struble pair is tied for fourth in the NHL (among pairs who have played at least 200 minutes together) for the percentage of expected goals controlled on the ice.

What this means, concretely, is that there are only three pairs that, when they’re on the ice, control the quality of scoring chances in favor of their team more than Hutson and Struble.

(Credit: Screenshot/MoneyPuck)
Indeed, when Hutson and Struble are on the ice, 60.7% of the expected goals on the ice are in favor of the Canadiens. This is a very high number that, more and more, is starting to have a representative sample.

And this raises an interesting question in the context where Kaiden Guhle could return to play before the end of the season. Logic would have dictated that he take the place of the one who replaced him… but can the Habs really afford to bench a player who excels on his off side and has obvious chemistry with Lane Hutson?

And if the answer to that question is “no”, it means that Arber Xhekaj must start to worry about his spot.

David Savard is the other logical candidate, but if Savard leaves the lineup, the Habs would only have one right-handed defenseman in their brigade (Alexandre Carrier). Playing with five left-handed defensemen is doable… but it’s not ideal.

Especially since Savard is still an important piece on the penalty kill.

The Habs will therefore have a big decision to make if Guhle returns to play… because right now, Struble is not playing like someone who deserves to be in the stands.

Without being spectacular, he’s effective… and it seems like he’s feeling better on the ice.


In overtime

– This pair is also doing well.

– Take a few minutes for your pleasure.

– Kent Hughes praises Martin St-Louis’s teaching qualities.

– Real kids.

– He had said in the past that he would never play for the Yankees.

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