Lane Hutson was revealed as the winner of the 2025 Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year on Tuesday morning.
The 21-year-old Montreal Canadiens defenseman received the trophy at a surprise party hosted by his parents near his hometown of North Barrington, Illinois. Among the family and friends in attendance at the party was Hutson’s younger brother, Washington Capitals prospect Cole Hutson, as well as their two other hockey-playing brothers, Quinn and Lars.
The Hutson brothers are very close, with Cole attending two of Lane’s playoff games for the Canadiens against the Capitals this past April. The younger Hutson, a second-round pick of the Caps, was rooting for both teams in the series due to his family allegiance.
Hutson earned the trophy after leading all NHL rookies in assists (60), points (66), and ice time per game (22:44) in 82 games for the Canadiens. He is the first Habs player to win the award since goaltender Ken Dryden took it home in 1972.
Phil Pritchard, the current curator of the Hockey Hall of Fame and keeper of the Stanley Cup, presented the trophy to Hutson.
“To win rookie of the year award, I just feel really fortunate,” Hutson said. “I’m lucky to be part of the Montreal Canadiens and be a part of such a great support system with all my friends and family. To be able to do what I love every day, it’s been a dream. I wouldn’t be here without the great support I have or friends, family, teammates, and coaches, so it’s definitely special.”
Hutson, selected by the Canadiens in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, earned 165 of a possible 191 first-place votes, finishing ahead of the other finalists: goalie Dustin Wolf of the Calgary Flames, who was second, and center Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks.
Voting
The NHL is airing a one-hour special celebrating all of the league’s award winners, which will premiere on Thursday at 6:00 pm ET on TNT in the United States and Sportsnet in Canada, before Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
