I spent four days in Boston, where I not only had the opportunity to meet Montreal Canadiens prospects Lane Hutson, Luke Tuch and Jacob Fowler, but also the man who will likely be the next first overall pick in the draft, Macklin Celebrini I had the opportunity to see them perform in person, some for the first time.
• Also read: Are we witnessing the blossoming of this forgotten hope in CH?
• Also read: Lane Hutson is tired of comments about his height: “Sometimes it becomes unnecessary.”
• Also read: He’s lost 17 pounds since June: Jacob Fowler is motivated to become the Canadiens’ next number one goalie
Here’s what I took away from these four prospects’ games, as well as notes on other players that caught my eye.
1. Lane Hutson is worth the ticket
Getty Images via AFP
I knew Lane Hutson was talented and had the opportunity to see him with my own eyes at the last World Junior Hockey Championships last year, even though he played a supporting role on the American team.
But here we are somewhere else.
Hutson is in his second year in the NCAA and we can honestly expect him to put up monstrous numbers again.
During my visit to Agganis Arena, Hutson was back in action after missing a game with an upper-body injury. His fall in the morning was uncertain, but once Hutson was on the ice, he had wings.
As usual, the Canadian was dominant offensively. His way of controlling the puck and deceiving the opponent is unique and I even found that on some occasions he was over-respected by the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Minutemen.
In the first period he did what he wanted with the puck, scoring a goal, collecting an assist and directing six shots on goal.
He also got everyone out of their seats when he knitted a pair of gloves between the pads for his opponent Aydar Suniev, who probably still has nightmares about it a week later.
UMass then adjusted somewhat to Hutson’s feints and, as in the first third, was less able to control the game.
A few more struggling scenes on the defensive end also served as a reminder that he is human and is far from capable of replicating that magic in the NHL.
But one thing you can’t take away from him: he has the ability to keep everyone on the edge of their seats. Every time he touched the puck, everyone stopped what they were doing for fear of missing little number 20’s new spectacular move.
2. Luke Tuch, one move
Rich Gagnon
To be completely honest, I had low expectations for Luke Tuch. When I talked to my bosses about this project, my main thoughts were about writing stories about Hutson, Boston College Eagles guard Jacob Fowler and young prodigy Macklin Celebrini. Luke Tuch would be an interesting team, even if CH’s second-round pick seems to have stagnated since his second-round pick in 2020.
And I was pleasantly surprised in every way. During the interview, the young man was extremely generous with his time. You can read the results of our interview again here.
But you will say that we cannot judge a player’s potential based on an interview. Totally agree about.
On the ice, I didn’t hate what I saw from him at all. Now, the Habs may not have the next Brady Tkachuk on their hands, but Tuch plays a similar style based on speed and physical play, which could allow him to serve the Canadian well in the support role.
A few times against UMass, he used his speed and body to evade opposing defenders and create scoring opportunities. It was this style that led coach Jay Pandolfo to place him on the first-line wing controlled by Macklin Celebrini. His job is to create space for him and he does it very effectively.
One sequence in particular caught my attention: In the third period, in the same presence, he demonstrated his puck protection skills by knocking opponents down twice with checks from behind and thus retaining possession of the puck.
3. Jacob Fowler, an evening full of ups and downs
Photo courtesy of the Boston College Eagles
I had to be at the Conte Forum in Boston to witness what was probably Jacob Fowler’s most difficult match of his young college career.
The goalkeeper allowed two goals in the first period, which he would probably like to see again. Final result: four goals allowed on 21 shots, but a 6-4 victory over the Michigan State Spartans.
Everyone I met told me about Fowler that his ability to successfully meet the challenges before him was excellent. He proved it the next day: He blocked 42 of the 43 pucks aimed at him and beat the same Spartans 5-1.
During my interview with Fowler, I particularly appreciated his honesty and the fire in his eyes when he mentioned that he wanted to be CH’s next number one goalkeeper. You can read the results of the interview here.
4. Macklin Celebrini is good. Very good.
Rich Gagnon
It’s not uncommon for promising young players to mention in interviews how proud they are of playing well defensively. These are often nicer words. In the case of Celebrini this was found not to be the case. He himself had emphasized in our interview the importance of being efficient on his territory, and his coach Jay Pandolfo had also noticed this aspect of the game in his young prodigy.
On Friday, against the UMass Minutemen, he proved it. His goal, his sixth in five games this season, was the perfect example of a responsible center creating offensive opportunities through effective defensive hockey.
The young player helped Lane Hutson, who was fighting for a puck behind the defensive goal line, before staging the counterattack. He passed the puck to teammate Jeremy Wilmer before racing to the net and redirecting his pass.
We better understand why every recruiter’s mouth waters when they hear his name.
Celebrini may not be the type of electrifying and explosive player that Connor Bedard was last year, but his ability to read and anticipate the game in all situations is enough to make many career forwards in the NHL jealous.
During our visit, he scored a goal and two assists, giving him a total of 9 points in his first five NCAA games. The next day he added two more goals to his tally. And we remind you that he won’t turn 18 until next June.
5. Some comments on other hopes
Gabriel Perreault Photo provided by Meg Kelly / Boston College
I really liked the work of the dynamic American trio that the Boston College Eagles have put together this season, consisting of Will Smith, Gabriel Perreault and Ryan Leonard.
After they said they needed a little adjustment period at the start of the season, they seem to have already found their way. Smith remains a constant threat offensively, while Perreault makes plays with a high coefficient of difficulty thanks to his unparalleled game vision. The big favorite is once again Ryan Leonard, who causes a stir every time he is on the ice, and not just on offense. The way he gets into the opponent’s head is truly beautiful.
Honorable mention for UMass Minutemen defenseman Scott Morrow. On a difficult night for his team, Friday night against Boston University, he was very effective and showcased his elite figure skating skills. It will be interesting to continue to follow the development of this tall, 6-foot-1, 194-pound right-hander who belongs to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Finally, a word about Artyom Levshunov, a Belarusian defender who is considered a very high-quality candidate for the next draft. The Michigan State standard-bearer is an outstanding figure skater, but one who needs to refine several aspects of his game. Some errors in his area caused great damage to his team during the game against Boston College, which I attended.