Hughes and the Canadiens reportedly acquired the best player of the entire 2022 NHL draft, with Lane Hutson

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Elias Edmonson
November 12, 2023 (5:14 PM)

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The Canadiens seem to have pulled off quite a steal in the 2022 draft by selecting young Lane Hutson at the 62nd overall pick. Since that day, the young man has continued to impress, and it's rare for a week to go by without one of his feats making the rounds on social media.

It's undoubtedly the defender's size, not his talent, that scared off various league scouts. At the time of the draft, he was only 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighed just 147 pounds. He had even warned all the league's teams that he had a medical condition that meant his physical development was delayed.

Without this condition, many believe Hutson could have been picked very high in the first round. Former professional scout for the Nashville Predators, Kyle Woodlief, mentioned during his appearance on Tony Marinaro's Sick Podcast that he could even have been a top 3 pick.

«If Lane Hutson had been two inches taller and twenty pounds heavier at the draft, he would have been a Top-3 pick.» - Kyle Woodlief

Despite the risks, Kent Hughes wasn't afraid to take a chance on the young man. It even seems that since that day, the defender has grown significantly and is now about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds.

In another edition of the Sick Podcast, Marinaro discussed the best player of the 2022 draft with renowned journalist Eric Engels. Engels wasn't afraid to bring up an idea that will surprise many.

«I think the best player of the 2022 draft was picked 62nd overall [Lane Hutson]. I believe that could become reality.» - Eric Engels

Shocked, Marinaro didn't hesitate to say that if it came true, the person who pushed for drafting him, co-director of amateur scouting Nick Bobrov, deserved the highest honors.

«If it materializes, Nick Bobrov will have his statue next to those of the Rocket, Guy Lafleur, and Jean Béliveau.» - Tony Marinaro

If you are critical of Kent Hughes and Bobrov for their draft choices in the last two drafts (Slafkovsky, Mesar, Reinbacher), you might want to wait a bit longer before passing judgment. According to Engels, the management team seems to have made very good long-term choices, including the first pick of the second round in 2022, Owen Beck.

Hutson, who is 19 years old, had an incredible 2022-2023 season with Boston University in the NCAA. He amassed 15 goals and 33 assists for a total of 48 points in 39 games. This season, after 7 games, he has already accumulated nine points. He has also been named, already, twice as the Hockey East Player of the Week.