The Habs don't need to him to be a top line shut down guy. They have Guhle for that. If they can get Hutson to be even average defensively while still giving him the freedom to create offensively...that's going to be amazing for Habs fans.....
That's cool. Good for Montreal. They don't
need Hutson to be that top matchup defenceman. Because they have Guhle (who i'm extremely high on) and Reinbacher is probably gonna be solid too.
But this is asking about Hutson's "potential impact". To which...i'd project it as more similar to someone like Ghost, as a "2nd pairing offensive D and PP Specialist". Not a top pair matchup defenceman like Quin Hughes for example, as many are comparing him to...simply because he's small and offensively gifted. Ignoring...all the other stuff about their respective games, comparatively speaking.
I'm just saying...out of these choices, i don't see Hutson ever breaking through as that true top pairing, matchup defenceman like Makar/Hughes. He's got a lot more "upside" offensively than Krug/Girard...but still less reliable defensive acumen as a starting point. Ghost is the closest projection among these options in "role and impact", despite being a poor stylistic comparable. Something in that Ghostisbehere/Barrie type vein. If he makes it.
Cant say I agree at all..... for one, the kid played on the PK in the World Juniors. Its not as if they didnt have any other option, as they had the BEST U20 American Dmen to choose from.
Second, there was no talk of any defensive issues at BU this past year. You dont get nominated for the HB 2 years in a row if youre bad defensively as a Dman.... and if there were, his +/- relative to his teammates wouldve been noticeably lower. It was not.
That said, given his style of play, yes hes bound to get caught pinching from time to time in his first few seasons. Reminds me of Subban a lot in that regard. That will be up to a winger to cover him, and he'll learn with experience when/when not to take those chances better.... but not letting Hutson carry the puck in the O zone would be a DISadvantage to the Habs offense, and he needs to utilise that skill. Would be a total waste otherwise.
In the end its a question of developing his hockey IQ, and like Hughes, theres no reason to think he cant be a better all around Dman after a few years experience. Hes definitely smarter than a Krug or Ghost, imo.
I mean, playing on the PK is a piss poor estimation of overall 5v5 defensive play. They're completely separate phases of the game. With completely different demands.
As far as "no talk of defensive issues" at BU this past year...you'd have to have had your ears plugged and eyes closed, to have not come across critique of his roving style...which continued in full force. He's extremely talented offensively and for better or worse, becomes an absolute focal point of his teams at that level. The issue is...whether he'll be able to rein that in to play a more structured, team-oriented "Pro Style" game...without neutering the thing that he actually
does do well.
Because you're right, in that carrying the puck in the offensive zone (heck, every zone) is so absolutely critical to Hutson's game. It's his main operational method. It's his most dominant trait and skillset. Problem is...that's often very difficult to integrate with NHL defensive systems and a real "team game". It tends to be very difficult to play with. And it tends to carry a very high threshold of almost "pass/fail" performance for coaches. Whether the "risks" and adjustments to the rest of the team and system are worth the "rewards" in productivity and overall team results to just give them a "green light" to play outside the system and carry the puck wherever and whenever they want.