Canadiens 2024 NHL Draft Profile 1.0 breaks down one nifty blueliner

You may know the name Lane Hutson, who is already a member of the Montreal Canadiens prospect pool, and perhaps more when the 2024-25 season is in full swing. If so, you’re probably also familiar with his brother, Cole Hutson, who is not just eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft, but he could be a late-first-round pick. And while the Habs have the fifth pick in the draft, they also currently own the 26th selection, which is where they would take Hutson if he’s there.

General manager Kent Hughes has a few options at his disposal regarding the 26th pick, but he could easily hang onto it and take either a forward or a defenseman with the selection. In this Draft Profile 1.0, I’ll imagine him taking a D-Man at No. 26 while a forward goes in the top-five, but there will be other profiles when either the opposite may happen, or better yet, Hughes could even roll with a pair of forwards with those first two picks. 

If you’re looking for a snapshot regarding who Cole Hutson is, let’s just say that, while not the biggest player out there, few blueliners will score to the same extent as he. And that would make him yet another incredible asset to a prospects pool that is currently shimmering with talent at the blue line. 

Who is Cole Hutson?

Cole Hutson’s size may scare you since the blueliner is a slightly built 5’10, 159 lbs. But don’t write him off of your own personal draft board because he’s a smaller prospect, thanks to his ability to put up points like a forward and the fact he has a later birthday, as the day he turns 18, he might just hear his name called in the late-first round. Regarding the latter, it means there is plenty of time for him to grow into a more pro-ready frame.

So before we dive in, let’s talk a little about Hutson’s overall points production, which took the hockey world by storm in 2022-23 when he put up eight goals and 42 points for the U17 U.S. National Team in 42 regular season games. He also logged another two goals and 26 points for the U18 Team, and this came in just 19 contests. 

Then it was onto the USNTDP Juniors, where he registered 25 points and four goals in 32 outings. Following a strong showing on the international stage as well - 21 points in 14 games, Hutson scored 15 goals and put up 51 points in 51 contests for the U18 team, with an additional three goals and 12 points in 19 games in the USHL. 

He also had 13 points and four goals across seven games in international play, and for 2024-25, Hutson will play college hockey for the Boston University Terriers.