An undersized defenceman chosen 62nd in his draft class was named the NHL's rookie of the year Tuesday.
Lane Hutson is the first Montreal Canadiens player to win the Calder Memorial Trophy since goaltender Ken Dryden in 1972.
"That's a pretty crazy thing," Hutson said Tuesday during a media conference call.
"You think of the history of the Canadians and it's pretty special for sure, but I've been fortunate to have opportunities with this team and the support I've had, it was amazing. It's pretty cool though for sure."
The five-foot-nine, 162-pound defenceman led all rookies in point production in 2024-25 with six goals and 60 assists, while the Canadiens climbed the Eastern Conference standings to grab a playoff berth in the final game of their regular season.
Hutson's 25 points after February's 4 Nations Face-Off, when Montreal went 15-5-6, ranked third among NHL defenceman. Hutson also tied for the league lead with a plus-18 rating during that stretch.
"You were 'too small to make your mark', but then game after game, you showed you weren't," the 77-year-old Dryden said in a video the Canadiens posted on X.
"Your team 'wasn't yet ready to compete,' then month after month, you showed you were. Now you and your team are on your way. I can't wait to see what happens next. Go Lane go. Go Habs go."
The Habs bowed out in five games to the Washington Capitals in the first round of the playoffs. Hutson had an assist in each game.
"We fought till the end, we fought to game 82 and got into a playoff spot," he said.
"You don't know what could happen throughout a full season and to be fighting till the end, it was pretty awesome. I would love to still be playing now, of course, but to play in playoffs and get that experience, definitely happy we got there, but not satisfied with that for sure."
Hutson was the clear Calder pick among Professional Hockey Writers Association voters as the first choice on 165 of 191 ballots, and a unanimous top-two pick.
The 21-year-old from Holland, Mich., amassed 1,832 voting points ahead of runner-up Calgary Flames goalie Dustin Wolf (1,169) and San Jose Sharks centre Macklin Celebrini (1,104).
Hutson's 60 assists matched Larry Murphy (1980-81) for the most by a rookie defenceman, while his 66 points trailed only Murphy, Brian Leetch (1988-89) and Gary Suter (1985-86) for the most by a rookie blueliner.
The Canadiens selected Hutson late in the second round of the 2022 draft out of the USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, and before his freshman year at Boston University.
Hutson dipped his toe into the NHL when he came out of college to play two games for Montreal at the end of the 2023-24 season.
That burned the first year of his entry-level contract, so he's eligible for an extension July 1.
Hutson was surprised with the Calder Trophy at a dinner attended by more than 50 family and friends in Lake Barrington, Ill. The NHL posted the video Tuesday.
"It was like a week and a half ago, so I've known for a bit, but had to keep it pretty quiet. I thought I was going to a fundraiser," Hutson said. "My dad told me I was coming to a fundraiser and I just didn't know what was going on, so it's pretty cool.
"I didn't expect the trophy to be there and when it came out, it was pretty funny and something I'll never forget for sure."
Hutson's mother Julie lived with him in Montreal in his rookie season.
"I told her she can come back next year too because she helps me so much," Hutson said from Boston, where he was testing skates and sticks from a supplier Tuesday.
"There's tough struggles and throughout a season everyone goes through it and to have someone to talk to and lean on it was really important for me and she's the best."
The defenceman was a "rink rat" in his first NHL season as he rarely missed a chance to get on the ice and skate, even when the Canadiens had a day off.
"When you do something you love and you get to do it, it's not really work," Hutson stated. "It's just me enjoying what I do and wanting to try to help the team in a way I can."
The NHL said the winners of the Hart Trophy, awarded to the league's most valuable player, and the Vezina Trophy, given to its top goaltender, will be revealed in a special before Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final on Thursday at 6 p.m. ET.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 10, 2025.
Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press
