Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson has become the fifth rookie defenseman in NHL history to record 50 assists in a season.
Hutson achieved the feat in the Canadiens’ lone first period goal of Thursday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the 7:55 mark of the frame. He began the play by skating out from behind the net and passing the puck to David Savard, who then made a breakout pass to Alex Newhook, who had just enough speed to get around Jamie Drysdale and beat Samuel Ersson cleanly from the faceoff circle.
With the secondary assist, Hutson becomes the fifth rookie defenseman to hit 50 assists in a season. He joins Stefan Persson (who achieved the feat in 1977-78 with the New York Islanders), Larry Murphy (1980-81 with the Los Angeles Kings), Chris Chelios (1984-84, also with the Canadiens) and Gary Suter (1985-86 with the Calgary Flames).
With 11 games left in the Canadiens’ schedule after Thursday, Hutson will have the chance to join Murphy and Chelios as the only rookie defenseman to hit 55 assists in the season, and possibly just Murphy as the only to hit 60. Hutson is currently on pace to hit 58 assists this season.
Hutson is also the first rookie defenseman to achieve the feat in 39 years, and the first to do so in the 21st century. Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom was the closest to doing so since Suter when he had 49 in 1991-92, while Vancouver Canucks blueliner Quinn Hughes had the most by a rookie defenseman in the 21st century with 45 in 2019-20, and was on pace to break 50 if not for the season being shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hutson has had a phenomenal rookie season, one that has put him as one of the favourites for the Calder Trophy. He had 5 goals and 49 assists for 54 points in 70 games going into Thursday’s game, and already with an assist to add to that total.
