Canadiens 2024 NHL Draft Profile 1.0 breaks down one nifty blueliner
An undersized but ultra-intriguing blueliner could end up being the Canadiens pick at 26 overall, and one who can score like a forward.
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.
What is the most intriguing aspect of Cole Hutson’s game?
You only need to look at Cole Hutson’s numbers to know he’s a game-changing blueliner who some may dub an “offensive defenseman.” One reason for Hutson’s outstanding game is that his skating is more than just on point. When I say that, I mean he’s a player who will quickly turn and take the puck all the way up ice with little regard for who is trying to disrupt his path.
He’s one of those players who’s basically saying, “Get out of my way, I’m making a big play, and there’s nothing you can do about it,” and such play often serves him well. There are times when Hutson will call his own number across the length of the rink, not stopping until he gets a shot on net and the occasional goal.
It takes confidence to consistently pull off plays like this, and if he’s skating through traffic, you know he’s got something else: Incredible edgework. There are times when the puck leaves his stick, and it looks like he’s lost it completely, only to regain possession of it with ease and keep moving down the ice.
Hutson is the type of player who will weave around opponents and force them to puck watch in the process as they’re caught overthinking on how to at least slow him down. Not only is he a slick skater with sensational edgework, but his overall stickhandling is at an “off the charts” level, and it’s why he looks like a forward out there half the time.
Oh, and you don’t often see defensemen taking odd-man-rushes down the ice, but Hutson’s an outlier, and he’s not afraid to make himself part of a two-on-one rush. Once again, it’s because Hutson knows there’s a strong likelihood he will outskate everyone.
What other traits does Cole Hutson bring to his game?
Given his ability to produce points, mainly via assists like many defensemen, it’s clear that Cole Hutson’s a strong passer. One reason is that he’s never caught watching the puck but always looking to see where his open teammate is lurking. That kind of awareness gives him not only excellent vision but also the vibe that he boasts a sound hockey IQ.
And he can make passes at any length, whether they’re short dishes to a teammate in the offensive zone, or longer passes to help move the puck up the ice. Hutson is yet another one of those players who can drive a puck down the rink, draw two or three opponents to within inches of his stick, then get rid of the puck with less than a fraction of a second before an opponent has a chance to disrupt the play. It’s that impeccable timing that leads to scoring chances and, often, goals.
We haven’t even talked about his ability to bank pass pucks, but he’s no stranger to them. If Hutson’s taking the puck down the ice, it’s not uncommon to see him bank the puck off the boards to a teammate or, at times, himself. Once again, perfect timing is key here, as is precision, and in the end, Hutson’s creating highlight-reel plays as a blueliner.
Hutson isn’t as known for his shooting, but it’s also something opponents can’t underestimate. When he decides to try and find twine and he catches the other team puck watching, there’s a good chance the puck’s getting past an opposing goaltender or at least coming back for a rebound.
Hutson may not boast anything close to ideal size just yet, but he uses his small stature to his advantage, catching opponents off-guard with fearless play when driving the puck that can involve him taking on players much bigger and, ultimately, crashing the net once he moves them out of the way or forces them to miss.
What about Cole Hutson’s defense?
Throughout most of this article, I’ve been talking about Cole Hutson so often that I’ve used the terms ‘blueliner’ and ‘defenseman’ excessively just to remind myself that I’m not writing a draft profile piece about a forward. Something about Hutson that stands out defensively is that he’s more physical than you may think, and as a fearless player, he will land body checks to try and at least throw off the timing of a sequence when his team doesn’t have the puck.
He’s someone who will challenge opposing forwards trying to get down low on the ice, he doesn’t shy away from contact, and he will contribute defensively, so he’s by no means a pure offensive-defenseman.
What makes Cole Hutson so intriguing to the Candiens?
The video from NHL Draft Pros that I embedded earlier has Hutson listed as a top-20 pick, and it wouldn’t surprise me if someone tried to take him long before the Habs pick again at No. 26. But suppose Kent Hughes drafted someone like Cole Eiserman - one of Hutson’s favorite teammates - fifth-overall, and Hutson dropped to No. 26. It shouldn’t take much hesitation for Hughes to snag Hutson, who again already has family ties in the organization.
Sure, along with his brother, plus David Reinbacher, Kaiden Guhle, Jordan Harris, and Arber Xhekaj, the Canadiens already have a blue line full of players who have bright futures, and for that, there could be a contingent of fans who would rather see Kent Hughes focus primarily on forwards. Hughes may, but a player of Hutson’s caliber should be well on the radar as there's a good chance a player like him will, in time, complete what could be one of the NHL’s best rotations from 2026-onward should he wind up in Montreal’s system.
(Statistics powered by Elite Prospects)