"You get to the National Hockey League and you realize it's hard to score goals, you can't afford to give up goals," Hughes said.
"It's probably required Lane to be more balanced in his approach."
Hughes compared Hutson's defensive style to a basketball point guard defending Shaquille O'Neal. "Lane steals the puck.
And he's so effective at it," Hughes said.
Hutson remains focused on internal team objectives. "I don't really care at all," he said about external narratives.
"I care more about internally, trying to help the team win and kill plays."
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere called Hutson "probably one of my favourite players to watch."
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Montreal head coach Martin St. Louis dismissed any concerns about Olympic roster selections affecting Hutson's performance. The Canadiens now prepare for the Eastern Conference final against the Hurricanes.
