Lane Hutson passes Chris Chelios for most points by Canadiens rookie defenseman

While the Montreal Canadiens came up short on the scoreboard Monday versus the Chicago Blackhawks, the contest wasn’t without a special moment for the record books.

Picking up a secondary assist on teammate Juraj Slafkovsky’s third period powerplay goal, the tally marked the 65th point of the season for rookie rearguard Lane Hutson, a feat that saw him surpass the legendary Chris Chelios for the most points by a Canadiens rookie defenseman. Hutson now trails only Kjell Dahlin and Mats Naslund, both with 71 points, for the top showing by a Montreal freshman.

In all, through 81 appearances this season, Hutson has collected six goals and 59 assists, a performance that has made him a leading contender for Calder Trophy recognition as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year.

Originally chosen 62nd overall by the Canadiens in the 2022 NHL Draft, the current campaign has seen the 21-year-old native of Holland, Mich., already achieve many major milestones. Earlier this month, Hutson became just the 10th defenseman in league history to reach 60 points in his rookie season, joining an exclusive list that includes the likes of Larry Murphy, Brian Leetch, Gary Suter, and Phil Housley, among others. Among his other accomplishments, earlier this season Hutson became the first rookie blue-liner to notch 40 assists in fewer than 60 games since Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom did so with the Detroit Red Wings in 1991-92.

For Chelios, the 63-year-old Chicago native spent part of seven seasons with the Canadiens from 1983-90, where through his 74-game rookie campaign he notched nine goals and 55 assists for 64 points. The following season, Chelios put up 34 points in 41 games before adding 11 points in 20 playoff outings en route to his first Stanley Cup championship. Three seasons later, Chelios reached a career-high 73 points coming in 80 games.