Which young defencemen will make Canadiens next season?

[@robertlegault9226]

Hutson is impressive but before we insert him into the lineup I still would like to see him put on a few pounds of muscle. I think we should start Hutson, Reinbacker, Mailloux and Engstrom in Laval to mature. Play Barron in Montreal to give him a last chance to see what he can do. This will give Hughes a better idea of what he has.

[@gaqread]

I think this is quite possible. Depends on what happens this summer on the trade front.

[@ericbisson2785]

There's no way Hutson is in Laval, his skill level in incredible and he played College hockey.

[@pierrelalonde3705]

I'm amazed with Lane Hutson's control and moves awesome!

[@cathybelanger3354]

I watched Reinbacher with Laval in Belleville. He played over 20 minutes in the top four and was impressive. If he stays in Laval, it won't be long. Barron may not stay with the club. Savard may be traded at deadline. Trades: Harris, Struble?

[@m4t67u]

Rubble must stay. Big defense men like these are hard to come by

[@Killerjy]

after seeing how good hutson is it is clear they drafted reinbacher for the sole purpose of being his right side D pairing.

[@TheSchwarzengger]

Hutson Reinbacher Guhle Mailloux looks to be the core moving forward with Xhekaj and Struble rounded the top 6.

[@chuckaluck22]

Rick Green’s energy is what this team needs

[@rgood1204]

Hutson can be a very good power play QB, but I don't see the skating ability that puts him in the class of Makar or Hughes (Luke also). Those are guys that can be on the ice with McDavid and not get turned inside out on a regular basis. If he reaches his potential maybe Adam Fox kinda? That is a former Norris trophy winner.

[@user-qo1gk2kj3e]

Xkekaj, Guhle, Mailleux, Struble, Orville Redenbacher, Savard. The rest ate trade bait.

[@toddlauretteHabsFan]

Trade Reinbacher with a few picks while his stock is still good. We need some goal scorers. Our d is great. Goaltending if it doesnt work out, we have good goalies coming up in the system, where we're lacking is forwards. We have a few coming up, Joshua Roy is probably the one with the most up-side, and that's not great, (no disrespect to Roy), I hope he becomes a good serviceable 3rd liner in the NHL for a long time, can't see him being much more then that, but we will see! The future is looking good, depending what we do this offseason, i can't wait to see who they add for a goal scorer, hopefully it's someone who is consistent, and who doesn't have a long past of injuries, f**kin' injuries are killin us! Here's to a bright future!!! Go Habs Go!!!

[@pierrelalonde3705]

20 year old Lane so shifty, he will be excellent on the power play, so talented

[@canadian1445]

Matheson - Guhle Hutson - Savard Xhekaj - Mailloux ---Struble/Barron/Harris

[@bdgannon1473]

Of the 3, Barron has the most potential IMO. Harris can't leave fast enough, and Struble needs to learn to skate.

[@toddlauretteHabsFan]

Not the one in the thumbnail. Hutson and Mailloux have the best chances, and i think they will both get a good shot. I hope we are at least going to compete for a wild card spot this year, it'd be nice to not know in preseason we aren't making the playoffs. The future does look bright tho, this offseason might be the most important since Gorton and Hughes have come here. Hopefully they dont waste this years first round picks.

[@mikegaudet6264]

the only way lane doesnt make the big club is if he comes in training camp over weight

[@mikefrontin932]

Lots of people saying Montreal is loaded with young D. This is true, but you need to account for at least a couple of them taking a step back next year (they're young). And possible injuries. I don't think management will be trading any D this summer. They might wait until training camp and see which D show improvement (from summer workouts). See who is dedicated.

[@MikeJohnson-nr4yo]

All 3 Reinbacher, Mailloux, and Hutson should start in the AHL next season. Too many Ds already and refining their game in the AHL doesn't hurt. Hutson would likely be my first call-up though.

[@viper29ca]

Not as sold on Hutson as some. I think he will start the year, as I agree, he likely won't learn much in Laval, and he can be insulated behind Matheson, with Savard on his right, but it has only been 2 games. Yes he looked great, but again, only 2 games! Mailloux, starts the year to the right of Xhekaj, and those 2 will create a big strong hard hitting pairing that will be tough to play against. Reinbacher. Coming from the European leagues, he needs to learn the smaller ice surface, faster pace game, I can see him being in Laval until the trade deadline, and be brought up when Savard gets traded. D corps next year Matheson Guhle Hutson Savard Xhekaj Mailloux Kovacevic As far as the others. I think Harris gets traded, Barron is buried in the AHL. Lots of talk of trading one of the higher end D for top 6. Maybe Matheson gets traded, but then you lose that insulation for Hutson. And someone here saying Guhle gets traded? 😂😂😂😂 Have also read trade rumors of Anderson, Mailloux and Winnipeg's first for Zegras. Sorry, but that has Sergachev/Drouin 2 written all over it

[@michaelb4590]

Love both players but we can’t just discard young d that are already up so I’d say look at bringing them up in the season once we’ve made trade of Harris and Kovacevic

[@TheRightWillRise]

The D I keep as my “d core” would be guhle Mallioux Hutson Reinbacher and Mattheson moving forward…. I would eventually trade Harris Struble Wifi Savard Kovacevic

[@dennissnow8754]

Habs have an embarrassments of riches in all those young Ds.But some of these guys are going have to moved.Which one of these young ones goes first?

[@paulalkenbrack6084]

My thought is that they move Matheson in the off-season or at the trade deadline for a top six piece. Hudson can take it from there.

[@hockeyislife7686]

Hutson and mailloux and I predict we will see reinbacher sooner then people think 😉

[@canadian1445]

I think Matheson will be with us long-term

[@jjevans1693]

Yes, Matheson needs to go or he will continue to hold back the development of the younger defenseman.

[@garydutton3959]

I know I am in the minority here but Hutson needs to spend a half a season in Laval playing against Men; I think he would be a liability in the Defence Zone against NHL Talent. Marchand, Tkachuk brothers will destroy him.

[@TheDuffer99]

I have a feeling the Habs are going to trade Guhle this summer. They have a such a strong stock of Defensemen that they are going to sacrifice Guhle in order to get a top 6 forward.

[@gaqread]

I preface this by saying that I expect two or maybe three of Harris, Struble, Barron, and Kovacevic to be traded this off-season. If that doesn't happen, then probably somebody else will get moved. But let's assume it does happen. I would seee this group starting the season in Montreal: Matheson-Guhle Xhekaj-Barron (or Harris - depends who gets moved) Hutson-Savard 7th D will be one of Struble or Kovacevic - whoever didn't get moved. By the end of the season, I think we'll be looking at something more like this: Matheson-Barron/Harris Hutson-Guhle Xhekaj-Mailloux Same 7th D Just my guess. And then, sometime in 2025-26 we will see a transition to something like this: Hutson-Reinbacher Guhle-Mailloux Xhekaj-Barron/Harris And who knows as the 7th D.

[@1898JoeBoyle]

Replace Andrew Berkshire. No need for analytics nerds or woke clowns

[@elvisisalive2716]

our 5th overall pick isn't ready, our second round is lol. Still telling us he was the right pick? What a bunch of boneheads for skipping leaonard / Michkov for Reinbacher. Back to the Bergevin days

[@alexrobichaud236]

Hutson is a 2022 2nd rounder while Reinbacher is a 2023 1st rounder. What a stupid and ignorant comment.

[@alexrobichaud236]

Reinbacher is a 2023 1st rounder while hutson is a 2022 2nd rounder. What an ignorant comment.

[@michaelb4590]

Sure bud

[@elvisisalive2716]

@@michaelb4590 you probably were on team Kotkaniemi as well , can spot them a mile away. Pass on Brady and Hughes, Dobson.. because we needed a C and not the Best player Available. Nice strategy

[@andrewmoulton7429]

Well Hutson was drafted the year before, and is an anamoly