Canadiens' Lane Hutson Named 2024-25 NHL Rookie of the Year, Wins Calder Trophy

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson is being celebrated as the top rookie in the NHL.

Hutson was named the 2024-25 Calder Memorial Trophy winner on Tuesday.

The Calder Trophy is awarded annually to the "most proficient" rookie as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Hutson, whom the Canadiens selected in the second round of the 2022 draft, spent two years developing into an NCAA star at Boston University before joining the Habs ahead of the 2024-25 season. He led all NHL rookies with 60 assists in 82 games, which tied Larry Murphy's 1981 record for the most ever recorded by a rookie defenseman.

Hutson added six goals to become the first defenseman since the Vancouver Canucks' Quinn Hughes in 2020 to pace all first-year players in points.

His 66 points also set a new franchise rookie-defenseman record, eclipsing the previous standard of 64 points set by Chris Chelios in 1985.

The Canadiens defenseman also topped all rookies with 26 power-play points and 22:44 in average ice time.

Hutson is the seventh Canadiens player to claim the Calder Trophy, joining John Quilty, Bernie Geoffrion, Ralph Backstrom, Bobby Rousseau, Jacques Laperriere and Ken Dryden.

He beat out San Jose Sharks center and 2024 No. 1 pick Macklin Celebrini, as well as Calgary Flames goaltender and rookie wins leader Dustin Wolf, for the award.