Lane Hutson

Hutson, who is expected to play for Boston University next season, is another high-upside player in a stacked USNTDP prospect class for the 2022 NHL Draft. He received the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence, which goes annually to the prospect who “best exemplifies commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness, and athleticism.” Hutson racked up 10 goals and 63 points in 60 games for the U.S. National U18 Team and he amassed 23 points in 27 appearances with the USNTDP Juniors. He also had eight assists in six matches for the USA at the U18 World Juniors. Hutson was named the best defenseman of the tournament. His skating, mobility and passing are big strengths of his game, but his size is expected to hurt his draft stock. Hutson manages to play well in the defensive end thanks to his high hockey IQ, but there are question marks regarding his ability to handle bigger players. Hutson has the skillset to be a top-six defender in the NHL thanks to his strong two-way play and work ethic.