NHL.com released a highlight reel of young stars' best dangles for this past season, and two Montreal Canadiens [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens] made the cut. Of course, Calder Trophy-winning defenseman Lane Hutson is featured, but so is the late addition to the season, Ivan Demidov. Hutson had the most electrifying rookie season seen in Montreal since Ken Dryden won 39 games, including eight shutouts, while keeping a .930 save percentage to claim the Calder. The previous season, he had also backstopped the Canadiens to a Stanley Cup and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs' MVP. Canadiens: Kaiden Guhle’s Ceiling [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-kaiden-guhle-s-ceiling] Canadiens: Another Solution For the Second Center Conundrum? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-another-solution-for-the-second-center-conundrum] Interesting Canadiens Forward Is Clear Bounce-Back Candidate [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/interesting-canadiens-forward-is-clear-bounce-back-candidate] Granted, I wasn’t born when Dryden dominated the 70s and won six Stanley Cups with the Sainte-Flanelle, but I’ve seen Hutson lit up the Bell Centre this season, and it was quite something. Before the crowd could get used to it and see his fantastic dangles as routine, Demidov arrived in the tail end of the season to steal the show. The night he joined the Canadiens to face the Chicago Blackhawks, the press gallery was “sold out,” so to speak, as many teams had sent representatives and/or scouts, creating a special energy in the building. When he scored his first career goal, late in the first period, the building erupted, including the press gallery. Journalists in the press gallery usually do an excellent job of staying neutral. Still, there were some exclamations when Demidov found the back of the net, there were quite a few impressions of Lucien “Lulu” Bouchard celebrating the National’s goals in Lance et Compte (there I go showing my age again). Even Connor Bedard was shown watching the big screen to see how history was made. Watching Demidov and Hutson in this short highlight reel is yet more proof that the future is bright in Montreal. Stay tuned. Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwo-DfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen], never to miss a story. Follow Karine on X @KarineHains [https://x.com/KarineHains] Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/karinehains.bsky.social] and Threads @karinehains [https://www.threads.net/@karinehains]. Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/] for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens. Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens] on The Hockey News.
