Quinn Hughes sees himself in $70.8M Canadiens star; Cale Makar chimes in with praises

This season, the Norris Trophy race is again led by Cale Makar, but Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes is not so far behind. He is just four points behind Makar's 11, despite the Canucks' struggles with consistency. Hughes and Makar are two of the league’s best defensemens in the League, when it comes to generating offense from the blue line. But there's another player on the rise.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, who has 9 points, is just two points behind Makar, ranking second in points among defensemen. The young Calder Trophy winner has impressed early in the season. His skating, puck control, and decision-making have improved since last year, when he scored 66 points. Both Hughes and Makar spoke about his strong start.

Quinn Hughes said Hutson, who recently signed an 8-year, $70.8 million contract, reminds him of himself.

"I think he's definitely very similar to me," Hughes said. "I think for him, he's just gonna have to keep continue to get better and better in his progressions. It's not always gonna be smooth sailing. He obviously had a really good season but it's not gonna be smooth sailing the next 15 years of his career."

Hughes also mentioned that Hutson could become a leader in Montreal someday. Currently, they have Nick Suzuki as captain, but in the future, with the right development, there's a chance.

"He's just gonna continue to learn, not only about the hockey side but about himself, what type of person he wants to be," Hughes said. "I'm sure he's gonna step into a leadership role at some point. He'll continue to grow every aspect of himself. One thing I've noticed about him is that he's got a lot of passion, so he's gonna continue to get better which is exciting for Montreal."

Cale Makar has three goals and eight assists in ten games this season. Hutson has one goal and eight assists in ten games, helping Montreal lead the Atlantic Division at 7-3-0. His passing and movement have supported the Canadiens’ fast attack.

Cale Makar also praised Hutson’s performance, saying,

"It's pretty amazing. Any player that comes in his first year and is able to produce and find ways to help the team, I think it's a pretty incredible feat. He's only going to continue to get better and better. I think there's another aspect to his game that people haven't seen yet..."

Cale Makar is 'excited to see" Late Hutson evolve

Speaking about Lane Hutson's early career and time for development, Cale Makar said he looks forward to seeing Hutson explore his potential.

"He seems like an incredible player. I'm excited to see how he evolves into an even better offensive player and also defensive player as well." Makar said.

While Cale Makar remains a top Norris Trophy contender, Hutson is closing the gap fast. His confidence and smart play are key strengths as he continues to learn and adjust to the NHL pace. If he stays consistent, he could soon lift his first Norris at just 22. His growth gives Montreal another reason for optimism.

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Edited by Ankit Kumar