Is Lane Hutson flawless?
The answer is no, as we all observed last night.
The young defenseman had a noteworthy offensive performance against the Penguins, but struggled considerably in his defensive duties. He ended the game with a -4 rating, highlighting the concerns some had about his defensive skills.
However, at just 20 years old, it’s typical for a young defender like him to make mistakes. Kris Letang has experienced similar challenges, and after the game, the Québécois reassured fans that there’s no need for concern, emphasizing Hutson’s undeniable talent.
It’s important to remember that the season is still in its early stages, having only reached four games, and Hutson has played just six career games in the NHL.
While we haven’t seen a lot of him, Scott Wheeler from The Athletic has enough experience to make a strong statement on Twitter: he believes Hutson is already among the NHL’s top offensive defensemen. Wheeler’s insight is noteworthy since he is a prospect expert.
Instead of questioning whether Hutson will become one of the NHL’s elite offensive defensemen, we should recognize the season is still unfolding.
Currently, Hutson is tied for the rookie scoring lead alongside Logan Stankoven and Seamus Casey, and only three defensemen have surpassed his point total this season: Shea Theodore, Rasmus Andersson, and Cale Makar, all with five points.
While it’s clear that Lane Hutson isn’t the strongest defensive player on the ice and may occasionally make errors that lead to goals, his offensive contributions are so significant that we must accept his defensive lapses. This has been evident since the season began.
