Canadiens have lots of college prospects poised to make jump
Lane Hutson is growing up. Literally.
And that's good news for the Canadiens, who took a flyer on the diminutive defenceman when they drafted him late in the second round (62nd overall) last July.
Hutson was a star with the U.S. National Team Development Program, but teams were wary because of his size. At the combine before the draft, Hutson was measured at 5-foot-9 and 148 pounds. When he was interviewed by teams, he carried a letter from his doctor saying that a growth spurt was imminent.
You should always listen to the doctor.
A freshman for the third-ranked Boston University Terriers, Hutson is 5-foot-10 and has added 10 pounds of muscle. He's still small for a defenceman, but his stature is similar to some other college-trained defencemen enjoying success in the NHL
He's an inch taller than Torey Krug of the St. Louis Blues. He's an inch shorter than 2021 Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox of the New York Rangers. And he's an inch shorter than Colorado's Cale Makar, who has a Calder Trophy, a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Norris to go with his Stanley Cup ring.
Hutson has nine goals and 21 points in 24 games and has been named Hockey East defender of the month twice. He'll probably spend one more year in college to get stronger, but there's a spot on the Canadiens' power play waiting for him.
Hutson is one of several Canadiens prospects who have chosen the college development route.
The player closest to the NHL is Harvard junior Sean Farrell, who was a fourth-round steal (No. 124 overall) in 2020. The left-winger is on the small side at 5-foot-9, but he's a scoring machine with 34 points in 21 games. The only NCAA player with a better point-per-game ratio is Michigan's Adam Fantilli, who is expected to be a top 3 draft prospect this summer.
Farrell took time out last season to represent the U.S. at the Olympics and was the team's leading scorer, with three goals and three assists in four games. Harvard players tend to stick around and finish their degrees, but Farrell could be an exception. He could turn pro and finish his degree during the summer or online. He proved the latter was possible after the Ivy League cancelled hockey during his freshman year. He completed his course work online while racking up 101 points with the Chicago Steel of the USHL.
Northeastern defenceman Jayden Struble (No. 109 overall in 2020) is in his final year and will be joining former teammate Jordan Harris in the pro ranks.
Struble is a physical, stay-athome type who has benefited from playing in a structured defensive system. He could be available to jump-start his pro career this spring because a slow start has Northeastern on the bubble for the NCAA tournament.
Minnesota-duluth junior centre Blake Biondi (No. 46 overall in 2019) had 17 goals as a sophomore, but struggled through the first half of the season with a left shoulder injury and his season ended with a right shoulder injury. He has since had surgery on both shoulders.
Ohio State goaltender Jakub Dobes (No. 136 overall in 2020) is having a solid sophomore season. The 6-foot-5 Czech has a 16-9-1 record with a 2.18 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage.