Hutson named recipient of E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence

Lane Hutson of the US National Team Development Program has been named recipient of the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence, the NHL has announced. 

The award, presented annually by NHL Central Scouting, is in honor of McGuire. He served as director of Central Scouting from 2005 until he died of cancer April 7, 2011. It’s given to the draft eligible who “best exemplifies commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness and athleticism,” the NHL describes. 

He is No. 27 in FCHockey’s Spring ranking for the 2022 NHL Draft. 

“Hutson is a dynamic offensive blueliner who uses his mobility to drive play from the back end,” said Austin Broad, FCHockey’s head US scout. In terms of offensive skillset, he has it all. High-end skating, vision and puck skills that make him a threat the second the puck touches his stick.

“The attention around his game has started to ramp up as of late but he almost feels like an underrated member of that talented NTDP blue line. Hutson has all the potential in the world and if he hits his ceiling he could be near that Quinn Hughes, Adam Fox, and Cale Makar level.”

Hutson, the top defenseman at the 2022 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, led the NTDP in assists with 53 and was second among defensemen in the United States Hockey League in points-per-game at 1.19. He also had 13 points (four goals, nine assists) against NCAA opponents this season. 

The 5-foot-8, 158-pound blueliner is committed to Boston University next season. 

“His lack of size does deter some people but size be damned, Hutson is a dynamic prospect and should be considered one of the best defensemen in this class,” Broad said.

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