Canadiens star Lane Hutson (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Lane Hutson’s snub from the Team USA Olympic Orientation Camp roster has been a hot topic for the last couple of weeks, but now the volume has been turned up to 100.
On a recent Habscast episode with Grant McCagg, Rob Hutson, Lane’s father, mentioned in passing that his sons all have Canadian citizenship. The understanding was that, should Team USA not want Lane Hutson in their future, he could likely find a taker in Team Canada.
Rob Hutson, who is Canadian himself, then added a “tongue-in-cheek comment” — which has since gone viral — referencing his Canadian roots and noting that his family is from Canada. The elder Hutson joked that he’d love to see any of his boys represented his homeland, but It was nothing more than that.
“You never know what happens in the future,” Rob Hutson, who was born in Manitoba, told Recrutes Habscast. “My boys are also Canadian. So there is an absolute luxury there and a lot of great players have been left off the selection for the Olympics and things like that. I think Brett Hull might have been one of them. He voted with his feet. He went from Canada to the U.S. There are all types of scenarios that are — I wouldn’t say are in play, but are possibilities, right?”
Committed to Team USA
Since then, there has been an absolute storm regarding Hutson’s future intentions, but it’s worth noting that, even if that was the intention of the Hutson clan, it is not an easy one.
Due to Hutson having represented Team USA at a senior IIHF event, the 2023 IIHF World Championships, he would have to sit out from international hockey for four years to make the application to switch international allegiances.
To say that Lane Hutson and his camp are unhappy with the snub is pretty accurate, but it’s completely understandable. He did just win the Calder Trophy and tied the single-season rookie record for assists (60) in NHL history; an honor he shares with Larry Murphy.
But, sources in the know around Team USA have gone on record to say that Hutson’s lack of World Championship participation this summer, along with his similar style to Quinn Hughes and Zach Werenski, made him the odd man out.
Now, Hutson’s allegiances are being questioned online; creating a buzz that is being spun and taking on a life of his own.
“It’s easy to take a 60-minute interview and turn it into a 15-second clip for clicks,” said Hutson’s agent, Sean Coffey. “There is no animosity there from Lane or his father; with both confirming this on record.”
When recently asked about not receiving an invitation from USA Hockey to the U.S. Olympic Orientation Camp, Hutson said at the Hush Hockey Skills Challenge charity event last Thursday at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard, which raised $25,000 for Ronald McDonald House Montreal:
“There are some great players who play for USA Hockey and great NHL players going to that. I wish them the best and hopefully they enjoy the camp. For me, I’ve got a season to get ready for and I look forward to it. …. I’d love to play [at the Olympics] but you never know what could happen and it’s a long season. So if the opportunity presents itself, it’s definitely something I’d love to do.”
In fact, Hutson was only sent his registration papers for Olympic Participation by USA Hockey last Thursday (August 28), mere hours before the IIHF deadline the next day (August 29). Even with very little notice, Hutson promptly filled out the paperwork and had everything sent over to USA Hockey before the deadline; making him eligible for a potential Olympic participation.
Focus On Montreal, With an Eye on The Olympics
Lane Hutson’s Olympic snub has sparked more conversation than USA Hockey likely anticipated. Between his father’s lighthearted comments about Canadian citizenship and the online speculation that followed, the narrative surrounding Hutson’s international future quickly took on a life of its own. What began as disappointment over an omission grew into a full-blown debate about loyalty, identity, and opportunity.
Yet when you strip away the noise, the picture becomes much clearer. Hutson is committed to Team USA, filling out the necessary Olympic paperwork in time for eligibility and expressing nothing but respect for the players who did receive camp invitations.
For now, Hutson’s focus shifts back to Montreal, where expectations are sky-high after his historic rookie season. Winning for the Canadiens, and ultimately chasing a Stanley Cup, remains his priority.
Whether or not Olympic chances come his way, Hutson’s future will be defined less by a snub and more by how he continues to grow into one of the NHL’s most dynamic young defensemen.