Lane Hutson is addicted to hockey

Montreal Canadiens star rookie defenseman Lane Hutson has been turning heads with his play, but behind the scenes, teammates and management have seen an unrelenting work ethic, and drive to be the best that keeps him on the ice every chance he gets.

Montreal is off today, but practiced this morning in Brossard, QC, in preparation for their matchup with the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night. No. 48 has put up brilliant numbers, and his deployment has progressed as the season winds down. Had he been on the top power play unit to start, he might be just a shot away from Chris Chelios 64-point rookie season (1984-85), setting a record that still stands today.

Hutson's next point, his 54th of the year, will give him a better rookie defenseman statistical output than Quinn Hughes's rookie year (53). It will also mark the most points scored by a rookie rearguard since Nicklas Lidstrom scored 60, in 1991-92.

Current star defenseman rookie season totals

For comparison, here are some of the current great defender's rookie point totals.

Quinn Hughes - 53 points 2019-20

Cale Makar - 50 points in 2019-20

Moritz Seider - 50 points in 2021-22

Rasmus Dahlin - 44 points in 2018-19

Brock Faber - 47 points in 2023-24

Fair to say that what Hutson has been able to do - scoring 53 points in 69 games - is extremely impressive for the 21-year-old.

If anybody could take a break on their day off, to let the bones relax, it's Hutson, yet he is out on the ice doing his best to get better. Working on his release, and short passes, with Cole Caufield and Emil Heineman. I wrote recently about Heineman, and I think the fact that he is out there, shows a drive to be the best player possible.

The same drive burns high in Hutson, who is one of the most competitive defensemen I have ever seen play. Hutson's play is very similar to his practices, he never stops working. Hutson is locked in, and his first taste of playoff success boils down to the final 13 games.

In essence, Lane Hutson is a workhorse

Martin St. Louis is not one bit surprised by Hutson being on the ice on off days. This isn't a new thing for Hutson who is on the ice before practice, and after. He has a passion that doesn't allow him to slow down, or stop working to be the best.

Marty has no interest in slowing down Lane either, no need to stop the train that is prepared to make a playoff splash, in his first NHL Stanley Cup playoffs experience. The biggest stage doesn't have the five-foot-ten, 165-pound defender shaken at all.