Lane Hutson is the sixth-best defenseman in the NHL, according to the NHL Network

Raphael Simard
Lane Hutson is the sixth-best defenseman in the NHL, according to the NHL Network
Credit: Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

As it does at the start of every season, NHL Network ranks the best defensemen, the best wingers, the best centers, and the best goaltenders.

A few days ago, it unveiled its list of the best wingers.

Today, it was the defensemen's turn. Here's last year's ranking.

Lane Hutson moved up from 19th to 6th place.

In fact, the NHL ranked him in the top 6, ahead of Jake Sanderson and Matthew Schaefer, among others. He narrowly missed the top 5.

Only Miro Heiskanen (5), Rasmus Dahlin (4), Zach Werenski (3), Quinn Hughes (2), and Cale Makar (1) rank ahead of the Canadiens prospect.

It's clear he wasn't ahead of those guys… Maybe Heiskanen, but whatever.

After a rookie season in which he tallied 66 points, the left-hander got even better with the arrival of Noah Dobson. He recorded 78 points, including 66 assists. In the playoffs, he was just as dominant, racking up 16 points in 19 games.

Will he be in the top 5 next year?

I can't wait to see where Nick Suzuki ranks amongand Jake Evans the top 20 NHL centers and where Jakub Dobes ranks among the goalies.


In a nutshell

– He's on a roll.

– Wow.

– Too bad.

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