Redrafting the 2022 NHL Draft to determine where Lane Hutson would go is a sensitive subject for Montreal Canadiens fans. Firstly, a redraft could mean that Hutson doesn't go to the Canadiens, which would rip away the fans' enjoyment of watching him this season and for the remainder of his tenure with the Habs. Second, a redraft raises the question of whether Juraj Slafkovsky was the right choice for the Canadiens at No.1.
Admittedly, it's a bit early to be talking about 2022 redrafts. A third of the first-round hasn't made their NHL debuts yet, and only two of the players played over 100 NHL games. It'd be easy to start making assumptions about the draft class only three years in, but Hutson going 62nd overall has begun to raise questions about whether he should've landed in the first round.
Lane Hutson goes 1st overall in the redraft. This is a legitimate take.
— Shaun (@shaun_has_em) January 15, 2025
Am I ready to admit that the Canadiens could've still landed Hutson since he was worthy of a first-overall pick? Many on social media believe that maybe that is the case, but he is only 45 games into his career. Thus far, he hasn't looked like a liability on defense, and his offense is even better than we imagined this early. However, you'd probably need to see it over a full-season sample size to believe in its longevity.
It's also easy to pile on Slafkovsky, who hasn't performed well this season and is still trying to develop into a force. If I had to predict at this moment, I would say that Hutson would end up with a better career after Slafkovsky's regression this season, but he could quickly bounce back in the second half or next season and prove us all wrong.
The Canadiens were never going to take Logan Cooley, as they were searching for more size in their lineup. This is the same reason why Hutson went so late, which is also proving to be a mistake for 31 other teams. However, there is an argument to be made that Cooley should've been the first overall pick if looking at the careers of the class to this point.
Cooley-Hutson going first and second overall would possibly be the smallest 1-2 combo in the NHL Draft of all-time. No one could've predicted that would be how this draft shook out, but two and a half seasons after the teams took the stage, it's certainly looking like it could be the case. It's a sign of the changing times in the NHL, as size and physicality are starting to take a backseat to speed and puck possession.