The Washington Capitals and the Montreal Canadiens will face each other in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs starting on Monday. While the two teams don’t have many similarities on the ice, they do have one thing in common in their organization: they both have a Hutson brother.
The Habs sport Lane Hutson in their lineup, a highly-skilled, slick-skating defenseman who had a breakout 2024-25 season and could end up winning the 2025 Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year. Meanwhile, the Capitals own the rights of Cole Hutson, Lane’s younger brother, a highly-skilled, slick-skating defenseman who became the first blueliner in World Juniors history to lead the tournament in points and was the NCAA’s Rookie of the Year.
During Spencer Carbery’s first postseason press conference, he warned the media he’s going to mix up the brothers’ names. And he did so right after screwing up the brothers’ names.
“Suzuki’s line with Cole Hutson has, since the Four Nations, we have him as the best line in the National Hockey League. So they’re a handful and utilizing Lane,” Carbery said began briefly before trailing off.
“Make sure I do not, catch me if I do, because Lane and Cole, I will mess that up at one point,” he said. “Because I’ve said Cole Hutson so many times over the last year, I’m going to say that name in this series, I guarantee it.”
Well, Spencer, you’re already 0 for 1.
As for Montreal’s Hutson, Lane, he’s looking forward to his first postseason appearance as an NHL player.
“I hope it’s more difficult,” Lane said. “It’s the highest level of hockey. Everything is all poured out on the ice. It’s definitely going to be a challenge and a lot of guys here are learning as we go.”
As for his brother, Cole, he made hockey headlines on Friday after announcing he would be returning to Boston University for a sophomore season in search of an NCAA title. Thus, meaning, a playoff series between Lane and Cole, which may or may not further trip up Carbery, would have to wait another season, at the least.
