David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Montreal Canadiens fans have been over the moon with what they’ve seen from their super rookie, Lane Hutson.
Whether they gush about the slippery defender dancing around the offensive blueline or are in awe of his ability to manipulate opponents on the power play to generate offense, Habs fans have had a great time watching the future of their blueline.
Hutson is having arguably the greatest rookie season of any Canadiens player since the turn of the century.
For a franchise as storied as Montreal, accomplishing anything historic is incredibly difficult and wildly impressive. With 41 points in 54 games, putting him on pace for 62 points on the season, Hutson is climbing Montreal’s history books.
The rookie record for scoring by a Canadien is 71, held by Mats Naslund and Kjell Dahlin from the early-mid 1980s.
The rookie record for scoring by a defenseman is 64 points, which Chris Chelios set in 1984-85.
While the overall rookie record may be a bit out of reach unless Hutson goes bananas down the back half of the season, there is a very good chance he could pass Chelios as the season winds down.
The only defenders ahead of Hutson on the Canadiens’ all-time scoring list among rookies is Chelios, Tom Kurvers (45 points in 1984-85), and Guy Lapointe (44 points in 1970-71). That is incredible company to be part of, as Chelios and Lapointe are Hockey Hall of Famers, and Kurvers had a very respectable NHL career with 421 points in 659 games and a Cup win.
Hutson may also pass Michael Ryder’s 63 points from the 2003-04 season, the top mark among all Habs rookies since 2000. Ryder set his career high in that rookie season and had a solid NHL career, winning the Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011, but the right winger never became a star offensive force.
Since 2000, only eight players reached the 30-point plateau as rookies in a Canadiens sweater, and only half of them got at least 40 points. Fan favorite and 2013 Norris Trophy winner, P.K. Subban, recorded 38 points as a rookie. Subban is the only other rookie defenseman to record at least 30 points for the Canadiens in the last 40 years.
Divisive 2018 third-overall pick Jesperi Kotkaniemi hit 34 points as a rookie. Current captain Nick Suzuki had 41 points, tied with Hutson, who has plenty of runway left in the season. Chris Higgins had 38, while Charles Hudon had a surprising 30.
Cole Caufield and Ryder are the only two rookies ahead of Hutson in this quarter-century….