Canadiens' Lane Hutson Wins Calder Trophy in Historic Rookie Season

Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens won the 2025 Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Rookie of the Year in a landslide victory, receiving 165 of 191 first-place votes and nearly 700 points more than the runner-up. Hutson set multiple franchise records, surpassing Chris Chelios for the most assists and points by a Canadiens defenseman in their first NHL season, and tied Larry Murphy's all-time NHL record for assists by a rookie defenseman. His offensive prowess and key role in helping the Canadiens secure a playoff berth contributed to his overwhelming support among voters. This marks the first Calder Trophy win for the Canadiens since Ken Dryden in the 1971-72 season. Other notable rookies like Dustin Wolf and Macklin Celebrini were also recognized, but Hutson's consistent top rankings on all ballots underscored his exceptional season. Hutson's emergence signals a promising future for the Canadiens, who boast one of the league's best prospect pools.