The rookie defenseman for the Laval Rocket has racked up a number of statistical accolades in the AHL season, all of which have helped propel him to a start in the NHL.
Lane Hutson dazzled fans and media alike on Monday night when he made his NHL debut with the Montreal Canadiens. The newly-signed defenseman looked comfortable on the ice, playing assertive hockey and earning himself his first career NHL point.
The Bell Centre faithful will look forward to welcoming him when he makes his home game debut in Montreal on Tuesday night, but he won't be the only new face on the blue line. 21-year-old Logan Mailloux was recalled from the Laval Rocket after the Detroit game, and is slated to make his NHL debut for the Canadiens' final game of the season.
Mailloux has been one of the bright spots on the Rocket roster this season, even through the early months when the team as a whole was struggling to perform well. He was selected by the league to represent Laval at this year's All-Star Classic, and since that time has done nothing but rise up through the ranks among the league's rookie and overall defenseman.
Whether it's goals scored, assists made, or points accumulated, Mailloux has been a dominant fixture on the league's stat sheets. He's also played in every single Laval game this season - the only player on the team who has accomplished that feat.
It's appropriate that Montreal has recalled him for the final game of the season, not only to get a look at how his success in the AHL transfers to the NHL, but also as a reward for putting in the hard work this season.
After the game, he'll likely be returned to Laval as they prepare for their final two games of the regular season. Those games, played later this week, will decide whether or not the Canadiens' AHL affiliate will move on to play in the postseason this year. It'll be a tough challenge for a team that looked like it was out of the race altogether back in December, but it's possible they could get it done.
On the latest episode of Rocket Hockey Report, I review last week's Laval matchups against the Cleveland Monsters, go into further thoughts on Hutson, Mailloux, and, oh yeah, Florian Xhekaj's arrival on the team. Plus I set the stage for the games coming up this week which will decide it all. To watch the video, simply click below, or follow this link to watch on YouTube: Laval Has TWO Games Left to SAVE Their Season!
New Video: Everything On the Line for Laval
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A43RAVe3K0k[/embed]
Be sure to bookmark THN.com/Montreal for year-round coverage of the Montreal Canadiens, Laval Rocket, and Habs prospects playing in leagues around the world.
