Even if the Canadian is having a more difficult start to the season, there are still some positive points. Out of the lot, we talk a lot about Cole Caufield who scores tons of goals as well as Jake Evans and Brendan Gallagher who play big hockey.
And with good reason: these are good things happening with the club.
That said, on the blue line, Lane Hutson is another big positive. His seven points in 13 games are a great production, but above all, he is Really dynamic on the ice.
He’s not a perfect player, but he adds an element of mobility to the blue line that the Habs needed.
And obviously, the youngster’s style inspires some of his teammates. Chatting with Anthony Martineau (TVA Sports), Mike Matheson admitted that he takes inspiration from his younger teammate.
And this, even if Matheson (560 games) has quite a bit more experience than Hutson (15 games) in the Bettman circuit.
Matheson, who says he has already received advice to always try to learn elements of his teammates’ play, tries in particular to integrate the young defender’s famous shoulder feints into his game. We know that it is a an element that greatly helps Hutson create space on the ice and often makes his opponents look bad, so much so that Matheson wants to try to have similar success.
We can almost say that #48 is an influencer, at this point. He didn’t invent this, obviously, but he is one of those who uses these feints most often.
In a context where many supporters would like to see Hutson pack down Matheson from the first wave of the power play, it’s good to see that the veteran doesn’t see the youngster as a threat, but as a guy from whom “it would be stupid” not to learn. And this, even if he might say that he has no time to waste on this given that he is a veteran and has already had his share of success with his own style of play.
The question that must be asked now is whether more and more players in the NHL will adopt the famous shoulder fakes. It’s effective for Hutson, and with Matheson successfully integrating them into his toolbox, perhaps some mobile defenders (or even forwards) will think it could help them, too.
To be continued, therefore.
In burst
– Darren Dreger finds that talking about regression at the CH is “a bit strong”.
– The Price family launches its foundation.
– The kind of season at CH where we talk about the coach’s alcohol consumption… in November.
– It is difficile for Elias Pettersson since signing his new contract.
– Great sequence for the CH hope.
