The return of Patrik Laine could be beneficial for several players on the Canadiens, including Lane Hutson.
We saw it on Tuesday night, the rookie defenseman set up the Finnish forward beautifully for his power-play goal.
This is something that could undoubtedly happen repeatedly in the coming weeks.
Seeing the sparks they generated on the power play during this game, Martin St-Louis will have no choice but to keep them together on the first power-play unit.
This could be very beneficial for both players, albeit in very different ways.
Hutson, by brilliantly feeding Laine the puck on the power play, could help boost Laine’s confidence.
Conversely, if Laine manages to score multiple goals, it would bolster the rookie’s personal stats.
Lane Hutson on his way to the Calder with Patrik Laine’s help?
Individual stats may be secondary in a team sport, but good personal numbers can carry a certain prestige.
Hutson could very well finish as the league’s top-scoring rookie and win the prestigious Calder Trophy.
Despite the Canadiens’ storied history, this trophy hasn’t been won by a Montreal player since 1972, when goalie legend Ken Dryden received the honor.
More than 52 years later, the Canadiens finally have a player with the potential to break that streak.
As of this writing, Lane Hutson, with 16 points in 25 games, is ranked second among NHL rookie scorers.
Ahead of him, Matvei Michkov currently leads the race with 19 points, including 9 goals, in 23 games.
Patrik Laine, a spark plug
Patrik Laine could not only ignite Lane Hutson’s performance but also boost many other players on the team.
Looking solely at the club’s power play, Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield could also reach impressive personal milestones with Laine’s help.
The captain could, for the first time in his career, reach the 82-point mark.
Meanwhile, Caufield could reach 30, or even 40 goals, if fed well by the Canadiens’ new addition.
It’s important to remember that Laine isn’t just a great goal scorer; he’s also an excellent playmaker for his teammates.
Additionally, players like Kirby Dach and Juraj Slafkovsky could also benefit from the presence of the tall Finn on their line.
We can only hope Laine stays healthy, as the team and fans need him to keep the fire burning.
