TSN analyst has her say on Montreal Canadiens potentially demoting Lane Hutson to AHL after shaky start

By Abhilasha Aditi

Modified Oct 24, 2024 06:14 GMT

Lane Hutson is facing questions about his future with the Montreal Canadiens after a tough start to the NHL season. The 20-year-old rookie defenseman, who was a second-round pick in 2022, entered the league with high expectations but has struggled. He has a minus-eight rating in his last four games.

In a video on Wednesday, TSN analyst Cheryl Pounder disagreed with the idea that the Canadiens should send Hutson to the AHL for more development. She believes Hutson should stay in the NHL to grow.

Pounder supports Habs coach Martin St. Louis' view as he sees Hutson's skill and potential despite his recent challenges. St. Louis thinks it is important for Hutson to learn from his time on the ice.

"Martin St Louis said it best when he said, This is a dynamic guy.... And I've been watching him with a very clean eye over 23 minutes. Again, this guy is playing top four minutes, they aren't sheltered," Pounder said (via TSN).

"Everyone talks about skating, his elusiveness, his evasiveness, but he also knows how to get to the pockets that he creates. He's got fantastic vision. I think it's a dynamic player. And listen, he's going to make mistakes. It is a process, but right now, he belongs in the NHL," Pounder added.

The conversation about Lane Hutson's performance continues as the Canadiens seek to balance the development of their young talent with addressing their defensive issues.

The Canadiens' record of 2-4-1 shows they are struggling, but Hutson's offensive talent remains a valuable asset.

Canadiens' Lane Hutson takes responsibility after defensive struggles in 7-2 loss to Rangers

The Canadiens have had problems with their defense, including a 7-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Tuesday. Mistakes by Lane Hutson and fellow rookie Logan Mailloux contributed to this loss. Hutson has accepted responsibility for his play and said he feels humbled and embarrassed.

“Humbled’s a good word. Embarrassed is a good word, too,” Hutson said (via montrealgazette.com). “That was an embarrassing play. You never want to give up a play like that on the third goal. You have to be better for the guys in this room.”

Huston also understands that age should not serve as an excuse for mistakes.

“My age doesn’t matter,” he added. “It’s hard for everyone, not just me. I definitely had some not-so-great plays in that game.”

As the Canadiens prepare for their next game against the St. Louis Blues, they aim to improve their defense. Lane Hutson is dedicated to getting better and wants to help the team succeed. The coaching staff will likely focus on building his confidence and decision-making skills.