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Jay Pandolfo believes Lane Hutson made the right decision by leaving Boston University after two seasons to join the Canadiens.

“I think he’s ready,” Pandolfo, who coached Hutson for the last two years, said during a phone interview Wednesday morning. “He’s done everything he needed to do at this level, so I think it’s the right time for him to make the next step in his hockey career. He had a tremendous two years of college hockey. The production offensively was probably the best two years a defenceman has had in a long time, especially as a freshman/sophomore. I think he’s done enough to show that he’s ready.”

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During his two seasons at Boston University, Hutson posted 30-67-97 totals in 77 games. He joined the Canadiens for their final two games this season and did not look out of place while picking up two assists and averaging 22:43 of ice time. Hutson did not look nervous with the Canadiens. Instead, it looked like he was having fun.

“It’s a game,” Hutson said after playing in the season finale at the Bell Centre. “It’s always fun.”

That’s part of what Pandolfo appreciates most about Hutson.

“That’s Lane to a T,” Pandolfo said when told about Hutson’s quote. “He loves playing the game … he really does. It doesn’t seem like any moment really gets to him. He just enjoys playing and I think you see that. We saw it every day for two years in practice. He just loves being out on the ice. He loves competing and I think that’s what’s going to help him.”

Pandolfo said he will be surprised if Hutson doesn’t start next season with the Canadiens and I agree. Pandolfo believes Hutson’s competitiveness, his ability to process the game and his confidence with the puck can make him even better offensively in the NHL than he was in university.

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“For him, I think playing with National Hockey League players on a regular basis — not that we don’t have good players at BU — but these guys are National Hockey League players and when he’s out there with them on a regular basis the game sometimes may be easier for him in that regard, at least with the puck.”

Without the puck could be a different story for Hutson, who is listed as 5-foot-10 and 162 pounds on the Boston University website.

“Like any defenceman at that level, he’s going to have some adjustments he’s going to have to make,” said Pandolfo, who played 15 seasons in the NHL as a forward. “He’s going to have to kind of learn on the fly a little bit at that level in what it takes to defend there. But he learned over two years here in that regard, so I’m looking forward to seeing his progress.

“I think he’ll be able to adapt,” Pandolfo added. “He’s going to have to be in that league for a little bit of time to really figure out what’s going to work for him. But that’s the other thing with Lane — his brain. He knows how to adapt to certain situations. He’ll figure out how to defend at that level because he’s so smart. He’s going to know he can’t outmuscle guys, so he’s going to have to use his brain, he’s going to have to have a good stick and his angles will have to be really good. He’ll figure that stuff out because he’ll put the work in to do it — not only on the ice but video-wise.”

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Hutson was listed at 5-foot-9 and 148 pounds when the Canadiens selected him in the second round (62nd overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft. He did grow an inch and add some muscle at Boston College, but Pandolfo doesn’t see Hutson ever weighing more than about 170 pounds with his frame.

“But he’s really strong on the ice,” Pandolfo said. “His balance, his agility. He’s hockey strong. He just has great balance … he can get out of certain situations. It doesn’t matter that he won’t be 180 pounds, he’s still really strong on his skates. I think that makes a huge difference for him.”

Pandolfo also believes Hutson will be able to handle the bright spotlight in Montreal, but suggests the 20-year-old stay off social media.

“He just enjoys going out and playing,” Pandolfo said. “I think he’s going to be able to handle that (spotlight), I really do. That’s just kind of the way he is. It doesn’t seem like a lot of things rattle him.

“He just enjoys being around the rink, enjoys being around his teammates,” the coach added. “He likes to have fun. I think that’s the best thing about him. Just the everyday competitiveness of him. Watching him in practice, how hard he works, it was a lot of fun to coach him. He wants to be coached. He’s looking to get better every day.”

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