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Canadiens React to NHL's Major Lane Hutson Announcement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated May 6, 2025 5:49 AM ET

The Montreal Canadiens took to social media on Monday to highlight a milestone rarely seen in franchise history.

“Lane Hutson has been named a finalist for the Calder Trophy!” the club posted on X, celebrating the 21-year-old defenseman’s nomination for the NHL’s rookie of the year award.

It marks the first time in more than a decade that a Canadiens player has reached this stage—and if he wins, Hutson would be the club’s first Calder Trophy recipient since Ken Dryden in 1972.

Hutson’s first full NHL season, after appearing in two games last year, was among the best ever by a rookie defenseman in league history.

Lane Hutson has been named a finalist for the Calder Trophy!

News release ↓ #GoHabsGo https://t.co/VwY7DbjstR
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) May 5, 2025

The blueliner led all first-year players in points (66), assists (60), power-play points (26), and average ice time (22:44).

Hutson also set a new franchise record for most points by a rookie blue-liner, breaking Chris Chelios’ 64-point mark from 1984-85.

The former Boston University star tied Larry Murphy’s league record for most assists by a rookie defenseman and matched Phil Housley for fourth in all-time points by a first-year NHL blueliner.

TOP ROOKIES!

Macklin Celebrini, Lane Hutson & Dustin Wolf are your Calder Trophy finalists — awarded to the NHL’s most outstanding first-year player. #NHLAwards

Find out where the next wave of young talent might be going during tonight's #NHLDraft Lottery which is about to… pic.twitter.com/k14qihgZRx
— NHL (@NHL) May 5, 2025

Drafted 62nd overall in 2022 , Hutson became the first rookie defenseman to lead all NHL rookies in points since Quinn Hughes in 2019–20.

He was also named Rookie of the Month twice—in December and March—becoming the first defenseman to earn the honor multiple times in a season since Nicklas Lidstrom in 1991-92.

The other Calder finalists are Macklin Celebrini, who posted 63 points for the Sharks as an 18-year-old, and Flames goalie Dustin Wolf, who went 29–16–8 with a .910 save percentage. The winner will be announced at the NHL Awards in June.

The National Hockey League started to announce finalists for the 2025 NHL Awards on Monday, April 28, with the winners set to be announced in the near future, without a date set yet.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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