“Lane Hutson can’t be your best defenseman”

Is Lane Hutson getting the recognition he deserves in the NHL? It's a valid question.

After all, even though he nearly averaged a point per game this season, he didn't make the Olympic team. Nor was he a Norris Trophy finalist.

That probably doesn't keep him up at night, let's be clear. But one might wonder about the place of such a defenseman in the NHL.

On that note, Corey Pronman wrote an article (The Athletic) about how defensemen are evaluated by the public and by people within the National Hockey League.

Basically, to what extent are defensive defensemen given their due credit? And to what extent are offensive defensemen overrated by some people?

Inside the disconnect between the public and the NHL on evaluating defensemen https://t.co/KEzuPLP7Pj

— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) June 16, 2026

Pronman surveyed eight people who work in the NHL. Anonymously, eight talent evaluators compiled their top 10 lists by answering the following question: Who is the best defenseman in the NHL?

Lane Hutson is outside the top 10, ranked 12th.

Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes, two defensemen with similar profiles, top the list. Why? Because scouts love their above-average skating ability. So even though they're smaller, it makes up for it.

Hutson, on the other hand, is seen by scouts as a luxury pick rather than a cornerstone. One of them added:

“They can't be your best defenseman.” – A scout on Adam Fox, Evan Bouchard, and Lane Hutson

Lane Hutson was the second-highest-scoring defenseman in the playoffs this year (and the top scorer among players who didn't make the final) and he was a huge help to the Canadiens. He isn't, however, the most-used defenseman on the penalty kill.

I think Lane Hutson can be your best defenseman to win. But for that to be true, you absolutely need players like Mike Matheson and Noah Dobson alongside him.

In a nutshell

– Interesting.

– World Cup: The door opens for Canada. [BPM Sports]

– Ouch.