Montreal Canadiens' Lane Hutson Chasing Franchise Assists Record

The young defenseman is on pace for an 85-point season and has already set the NHL record for most assists by a defenseman in his first 150 games.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 9:22pm

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Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson is having a standout season, extending his career-best road point streak to 10 games and closing in on the franchise record for assists by a defenseman in a single season. Hutson has already set the NHL record for most assists by a defenseman in his first 150 games, passing Hall of Famer Sergei Zubov. The 21-year-old is on track for an 85-point season, which would tie the Canadiens' franchise record for a defenseman set by Larry Robinson in 1976-77.

Why it matters

Hutson's rapid rise has not gone unnoticed, with former NHL player turned analyst Ryan Whitney admitting he underestimated the young defenseman's immediate impact. Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis says the team is no longer surprised by Hutson's performances, as the young blueliner continues to drive offense and help the Canadiens push toward a potential deep playoff run.

The details

Hutson extended his career-best road point streak to 10 games on Wednesday, recording an assist in Montreal's 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. His helper came on Alexandre Texier's goal in the second period, tying the game at 2-2. Another point on the road would allow Hutson to match a Canadiens franchise record for defensemen. The assist also brought him to 66 points on the season (11 goals, 55 assists), matching his 2024-25 total but in 18 fewer games.

  • Hutson set the NHL assists record for a defenseman's first 150 games.
  • Hutson is one road point from tying the Canadiens franchise record for defensemen.

The players

Lane Hutson

A 21-year-old defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens who is having a standout season, chasing franchise records and setting NHL milestones.

Martin St. Louis

The head coach of the Montreal Canadiens, who says the team is no longer surprised by Hutson's impressive performances.

Ryan Whitney

A former NHL player turned analyst who admitted he underestimated Hutson's immediate impact in the league.

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What they’re saying

“The fact I even wondered for one second if Lane Hutson would dominate the NHL the way he dominated college makes me sick.”

— Ryan Whitney, Former NHL player and analyst (profootballnetwork.com)

“I think we're past that. Some of the stuff he did last year, even when he came up the year before for two games (at the end of the season) was pretty impressive... But then last year... I don't think we're impressed anymore. I think we're very happy to have him.”

— Martin St. Louis, Head Coach, Montreal Canadiens (profootballnetwork.com)

What’s next

The Canadiens will return to action Saturday against the San Jose Sharks at home, as Hutson looks to continue his historic season and help the team push toward a potential deep playoff run.

The takeaway

At just 21 years old, Lane Hutson has already established himself as one of the NHL's elite defensemen, setting records and chasing franchise milestones with the Montreal Canadiens. His rapid rise and continued dominance have surprised even the most seasoned hockey analysts, solidifying his status as a rising star in the league.