Canadiens' Lane Hutson gears up for Stanley Cup glory as Round 1 battle against Capitals nears

Modified Apr 20, 2025 15:47 GMT

NHL: Chicago Blackhawks at Montreal Canadiens - Source: Imagn — Lane Hutson gears up for Stanley Cup glory as Round 1 battle against Capitals nears (image credit: IMAGN)

Montreal Canadiens' Lane Hutson had an outstanding regular season, leading all NHL rookies with 66 points and tying the NHL record for most assists by a rookie defenseman with 60.

He is now gearing up for his playoff debut as the Canadiens secured the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot after defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 in their final regular-season game on Wednesday.

Montreal will be up against Alex Ovechkin's Washington Capitals in the first round. Hutson posted a reel on Instagram, showcasing classic Canadiens moments and highlights from his rookie season.

He expressed gratitude to the city of Montreal.

"Montreal magic. Grateful for this city. Here we go," Hutson captioned on Saturday.

The Canadiens returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2021, when the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated them in four games to clinch their second consecutive championship.

The Habs will hope to make a similar run this time when they travel to Capital One Arena to face the Capitals in Game 1 on Monday. The puck drops at 7 p.m. ET.

Lane Hutson opens up about expectations in the playoffs

Lane Hutson shared his thoughts on the Canadiens' expectations in the playoffs and admitted he's unsure what to expect but anticipates intense competition.

"I honestly don’t know what to expect,” Hutson said on Saturday, via The Globe and Mail. “I assume it’s going to be intense. Whatever has happened to this point doesn’t matter. It’s going to be a whole different game out there.

““It has been a long season of ups and downs and this last stretch was tough for everyone. You try not to show you are rattled but everyone gets rattled and handles it differently. ”

Hutson was drafted 62nd overall by Montreal in the 2022 NHL draft and is leading the race for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the best rookie.

Should he win, Hutson would be the first Canadiens rookie to claim the trophy since Ken Dryden in 1972. He finished as the third-leading scorer on the team, behind Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.

About the author

Abhishek is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda with over 2 years of sports reporting experience and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delhi. He became a fan of ice hockey after watching NHL fight videos on YouTube, which led to him professionally writing about the sport and his continued interest in all things hockey.

A fan of the Boston Bruins, Abhishek considers their incredible comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 playoffs as the most iconic moment in the NHL. His admiration for the six-time Stanley Cup winners also comes from the team’s storied history, distinctive black and gold uniform and their success in the sport. His all-time favorite NHL players are Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, for their ability to perform at the highest level consistently.

Abhishek ensures his reporting is fair and balanced by being well-researched in his details, which he expects to be relevant, up-to-date and in line with ethical standards. His specialties are doing detailed match analysis and covering fan reactions.

Abhishek enjoys music, traveling and going on walks with his three German Shepherds in his free time, along with learning about horticulture.

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Edited by Victor Ramon Galvez