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NHL Prospect Roundup: Montreal Canadiens’ Lane Hutson on pace for near-historic college season
Steven Ellis
Steven Ellis
Nov 13, 2023
NHL Prospect Roundup: Montreal Canadiens’ Lane Hutson on pace for near-historic college season
Credit: Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff

The IIHF’s second international break has come and gone, marking the end of one of the best showcase weekends of the season.

It was one of the busiest weekends on the scouting calendar, with many nations using it to gauge their talent for the upcoming World Junior Championship in Sweden this winter. The WJC hosts won the marquee event, a five-team affair in Czechia that also included Switzerland, Slovakia and Finland.

Canada and the United States competed at other levels but stayed put in U-20 action. Instead, everything was status quo there, which saw some key names – such as Montreal Canadiens prospect Lane Hutson – continue putting up great numbers in league play.

And that’s where we’re kick things off this week:

NCAA

– Thought Lane Hutson‘s freshman season was special? His 48-point run with Boston University was one of the best seasons by a U-19 defenseman in NCAA history, breaking a 35-year-old scoring record set by Brian Leetch. Hutson registered a hat trick against North Dakota last weekend and is now up to 11 points in nine games. Drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 2022, Hutson’s defensive game still needs work to the point where I’d almost prefer him as a forward in the NHL. But he looks physically stronger, and when he’s on his game, Boston’s been able to rack up wins. Next month, he’ll be the backbone of USA’s world junior lineup.

– After having the best statistical season in USNTDP history last year, New York Rangers first-rounder Gabriel Perreault is keeping the fun going by leading Boston College with 15 points over 10 games as a college freshman. He’s been an incredible setup man, both on the power play and at 5-on-5. His production hasn’t slowed, and he’s looking like a more capable skater than he was even at the latter stages of the 2022-23 season. At this point, there isn’t much to dislike about what I’m seeing here.

AHL

– If anyone was wondering if Logan Stankoven could transfer his game to the pro level, rest assured. The 5-foot-8 forward is up to 15 points in 12 games, including two goals in two games against Milwaukee this weekend. For a smaller player, the Dallas Stars product can play an aggressive game, with very little getting in his way. He has a pair of three-point efforts this year, which isn’t easy for a 20-year-old rookie.

– It’s not easy to get starts in a four-headed goalie cluster. But Dennis Hildeby has made the most of it, registering two shutouts and a .950 save percentage over four games. He can definitely say he’s doing his part to give the Marlies a chance every night. Given this year was all about getting him comfortable playing in North America for the first time, it’s been great seeing how valuable Hildeby has been so far. Is he the Toronto Maple Leafs’ goalie of the future?

QMJHL

– Jordan Dumais has been mentioned in this space five times now the past two years, and for good reason. He’s now up to 306 points in 183 career games, numbers you’d expect to see back in the 1980s when goaltending was more of a suggestion back then. He’s fifth in QMJHL scoring with 28 points in just 11 games, which puts him at a 147-point pace in 58 games. Seriously, it’s ridiculous. He’s at 10 points over his past four games with a trio of three-point outings. If Dumais can put up even 40 percent of these numbers in the NHL, the Columbus Blue Jackets will have a gem on their hands.

OHL

– Paul Ludwinski is riding a nine-game point streak with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs, highlighted by a six-point run in a busy three-game stretch this weekend. He’s on pace for a career-best 30 goals, showing a bit of a scoring touch that looked lost last year. Offense isn’t his specialty; instead, he’s an aggressive, smart, two-way player who can bring energy to the Chicago Blackhawks‘ bottom six one day. Still, it’s good to see him producing now as a draft+2 forward.

WHL

– There was no shortage of smiles when Yegor Sidorov was drafted as an overager last year, especially after opening up about being unable to see his family for a few years in Belarus. He was one of the most improved players in the WHL, scoring 40 goals and 76 points in his second year with the Saskatoon Blades. This year, he’s scoring at just under a goal per game with 15 in 16 contests, putting him on pace for just over 60 over a full season. He had a three-goal, four-point effort last Sunday and is riding a five-game goal streak. Confidence isn’t hard to come by for the Anaheim Ducks prospect right now.

SHL

– Jonathan Lekkerimäki was all the rage in Vancouver Canucks land over the weekend, and it’s easy to understand why. While suiting up for Sweden, Lekkerimäki had a two-point effort against Slovakia on Friday before nabbing another two assists against Czechia and Finland. It’s all part of what’s been a huge bounce-back season for the Swede, who currently has eight goals and 11 points in 15 SHL games with Orebro. After a difficult season with Djurgardens, Lekkerimäki is having one of the best U-20 campaigns we’ve seen in a Swede in quite some time.

– Filip Bystedt had an incredible summer run with Sweden’s national team, so his play in Chumutov was a bit like where he left off. He bookended the tournament with two-point efforts and had an assist in a 2-1 win over Czechia on Saturday. The San Jose Sharks prospect has been Sweden’s top point producer in international play this year and will factor into the team’s world junior roster in a big way.

Liiga

– The Finns ultimately lost to Sweden in the Five Nations event in Czechia, but Kasper Kulonummi looked excellent. He’s still seeking his first Liiga goal in his second season with Tappara, but Kulonummi led all drafted Finns with five points in three games at the Five Nations event in Czechia. He was one of two goal-scorers in a 4-2 loss to Sweden on Sunday, and had a pair of two-point efforts against Switzerland and Czechia. The Nashville Predators prospect has always looked good for Finland in international competition, which doesn’t hurt heading into the World Junior Championship conversation.

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