Further proof of Lane Hutson’s offensive dominance this season: he is already one of the best playmakers in the NHL, and the numbers are there to prove it.
According to data compiled by Sportlogiq, the little Canadian defender became, Thursday night, against the Dallas Stars, the first defender in the entire NHL to complete 100 passes in the slot this season. This data is one of the most important when it comes to quantifying a player’s passing qualities. Obviously, the most difficult place to penetrate on the ice being the slot, the players who are able to successfully spot their teammates in this nerve center of the game are normally the ones who create the most dangerous scoring chances. .
And when we look at the names that follow, we still realize Hutson’s exceptional play in the offensive zone, despite his young age:
- Lane Hutson (Montréal) 100
- Erik Karlsson (Ottawa) 90
- Quinn Hughes (Vancouver) 81
- Noah Dobson (Islanders) 80
- Adam Fox (Rangers) 78
- Charlie McAvoy (Boston) 77
- John Carlson (Washington) 73
- Brent Burns (Caroline) 73
- Mikhail Sergachev (Utah) 72
- Roman Josi (Nashville) 71
One of the best, period
When we told you, at the start of this text, that the American defender was already one of the best playmakers in the NHL, we weren’t just talking about defenders.
His hundred passes completed in the slot allow him to come to 13e rank, all positions combined, across the NHL. He is also only nine from ninth place jointly held by Sidney Crosby and William Nylander.
-- Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado) 170
- Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay) 148
- Connor McDavid (Edmonton) 145
- Mitch Marner (Toronto) 140
- Clayton Keller (Utah) 129
- Jack Hughes (New Jersey) 129
- Jack Eichel (Vegas) 123
- Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton) 121
- William Nylander (Toronto) 109
- Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh) 109
Towards one of the best seasons in history?
With an assist on the Canadian’s winning goal Thursday night in Dallas, Hutson brought his point total to 36 in 44 games this season. He ranks sixth in points at his position in the Bettman circuit and continues to dominate the rookie scoring column, four points ahead of Matvei Michkov and Macklin Celebrini.
He is currently on track to finish the season with 68 points in 82 games, which would constitute the third best production for a defenseman in his first year in the NHL, in NHL history. Only Larry Murphy (76 points in 1980-1981) and Brian Leetch (71 points in 1988-1989) scored more points in their rookie season. Gary Suter, with the Flames in 1985-1986, also scored 68 points in his first year in the big league.
*Statistics on passes completed in the slot come from Sportlogiq
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