Nick Suzuki equates Canadiens' top prospect Lane Hutson to $47.1M Vancouver Canucks D-man 

Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki recently compared top prospect Lane Hutson to the Vancouver Canucks' Quinn Hughes. Suzuki, known for his keen insights, sees similarities between Hutson's skills and those of the $47.1 million defenseman.

Hutson played his first NHL games last season. In recent rookie tournament games, he showed his potential against Toronto Maple Leafs prospects. Suzuki was impressed by Hutson's skating and ability to handle the puck on the blue line, traits similar to Hughes.

"He reminds me a lot of Quinn Hughes," Suzuki said via NHL.com. "Just the way he skates, walks the blue line. Obviously Quinn's an amazing player and I'm sure Lane wants to be something like him. So it's impressive. He makes a lot of really nice plays, he sees the ice really well, so we'll see how he does at camp."

Hughes signed a six-year, $47.1 million contract with the Canucks in 2021. Known for his strong skating and playmaking skills, Suzuki's comparison suggests Hutson could develop into a player with similar abilities. The Canadiens will now closely monitor whether Hutson can meet those expectations.

Nick Suzuki believes Canadiens are 'being slept on' as team eyes playoff push

The Montreal Canadiens are looking to end their streak of disappointing seasons and make the playoffs this year. General Manager Kent Hughes aims for the team to stay competitive through April, but isn’t sure about a playoff spot just yet (via TSN.com):

"I want us to be in the race, more long-term,” Hughes said. “I can't predict whether that means until the last game, I can't predict whether we'll make the playoffs."

Training camp begins Wednesday, and the Canadiens will look to avoid missing the postseason for a fourth straight year.

This offseason, the Canadiens added Patrik Laine, who scored 52 points through 22 goals and 30 assists for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2022-23 season. Juraj Slafkovsky – the top pick from 2022 – and Suzuki, who set career highs, are expected to be important players:

“The position that we're in now, we're really trying to make the playoffs and show what kind of team we are. I think we're being slept on really hard right now; I like that position and I think the guys are fueled by that ready to go,” Suzuki said.

The Canadiens will compete against strong teams in the Atlantic Division, like the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs. Still, Nick Suzuki and Co. are determined to show their critics wrong. Lane Hutson and Patrik Laine may help them achieve just that.

How do you think the Montreal Canadiens will fare next season? Can they make the playoffs? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.