Hutson achieved the feat just 4:43 into the first period of Tuesday’s game against the Florida Panthers. After collecting the puck in the Panthers’ zone during an attempt to clear the puck from Florida, Hutson moved the puck across the blueline to Kaiden Guhle, who then threw the puck at the net. A Josh Anderson deflection beat Vitek Vanecek, and that gave the Habs a 1-0 lead, and Hutson his 60th point of the season.
With the assist, Hutson is the 10th defenseman in NHL history to get 60 points in their rookie season, and the first since 1991-92. Hutson joins Reed Larson & Barry Beck (both achieving the feat in 1977-78), Ray Bourque (1979-80), Larry Murphy (1980-81), Phil Housley (1982-83), Chris Chelios (1984-85), Gary Suter (1985-86), Brian Leetch (1988-89) and Nicklas Lidstrom (1991-92) as the only rookie defensemen to do so.
Hutson is also the first defenseman to hit 60 points in the 21st century. Quinn Hughes had the most points by a rookie defenseman in the 21st century prior to this season, with 53 points in 2019-20.
The assist also gives Hutson his 55th assist of the season, which ties Chelios for the second-most assists by a rookie defenseman, and ties the two for first in Canadiens’ franchise history. Murphy currently holds the league-wide record with 60 assists in 1980-81.
Hutson has had a phenomenal rookie season, one that has put him as one of the favourites for the Calder Trophy. He had 5 goals and 54 assists for 59 points in 73 games going into Tuesday’s game, and already has an assist to add to that total. He’s currently on pace for 60 assists, which would tie the all-time rookie defenseman assist record, and 65 points, which would tie Bourque for the fifth-most points by a rookie defenseman.
