The Montreal Canadiens boast a roster loaded with promising talent, including forwards Patrick Laine, Ivan Demidov, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky, who are expected to have standout seasons. Their defensive lineup is equally formidable, featuring physical players like Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj alongside offensive talents such as Noah Dobson and Lane Hutson. Despite this depth, when the U.S. Men’s Olympic Orientation Camp roster was announced on August 19, 2025, Hutson—the reigning Calder Trophy winner—was noticeably absent, sparking intense criticism.
The camp invitations included 24 forwards, 16 defenders, and four goalies, with only Canadiens forward Cole Caufield making the cut from Montreal. The invited defenders were Brock Faber, Adam Fox, Noah Hanifin, Luke Hughes, Quinn Hughes, Seth Jones, Jackson LaCombe, Charlie McAvoy, Ryan McDonagh, Brett Pesce, Neal Pionk, Jake Sanderson, Brady Skjei, Jaccob Slavin, Alex Vlasic, and Zach Werenski.
Fans and Analysts Voice Strong Disapproval of Hutson’s Exclusion
Coming off a 66-point season over 82 games, and fresh from being named the NHL‘s best rookie, many expected Hutson to be invited. The shock of his omission led to an outpouring of frustration from fans and hockey analysts who saw the decision as unfair and puzzling.
ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski weighed in, suggesting Hutson deserved the orientation camp invitation despite unlikely making the Olympic roster itself, pointing to other invitees like Jackson LaCombe and Alex Vlasic who were also unlikely to secure spots.
Unless there’s a material reason he couldn’t attend, I don’t understand not inviting Lane Hutson to experience U.S. Olympic development camp.
No, he wasn’t going to make the 2026 roster. But neither are Jackson LaCombe and Alex Vlasic, so …
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) August 19, 2025
Philadelphia-based writer Justin Giampietro stated that Hutson outperforms more than half of the defenders named to the camp. Meanwhile, NHL insider and Boston Bruins-focused journalist Jimmy Murphy forecasted that Hutson would embark on a “Revenge Tour” in the 2025-26 season, using this snub as motivation.
Social media accounts like Hockey Psychology also highlighted the surprise at the exclusion, calling it “wild” that the top rookie was not given a chance to participate in the camp. The Habs Chronicle called it an “all-time snub to Hutson,” while Jordan Decker on X remarked,
I can hear an argument for why you might not pick him to make the team (yet), but not inviting Lane Hutson to even try out, over like half those dmen is definitely a choice.
One user also commented harshly on the emotional impact of the snub with,
If I was Lane Hutson I would renounce my American citizenship IMMEDIATELY
Assessing Hutson’s Credentials Compared to U.S. Olympic Camp Invitees
The primary argument for including Hutson revolves around his offensive prowess and consistency. Of the 16 defenders invited to orientation camp, only Quinn Hughes and Zach Werenski scored more points than Hutson in the previous season. Hutson ranked seventh in points among NHL defensemen and overall placed 66th in league scoring, indicating his offensive output was not the reason for his omission.
The most plausible explanation for his exclusion appears to be his physical stature. Among the camp invitees, only Adam Fox (5-foot-11) and Quinn Hughes (5-foot-10) are under six feet tall, whereas Hutson is listed officially at 5-foot-9, 162 pounds on NHL.com, and slightly larger on PuckPedia at 5-foot-10, 165 pounds. This size discrepancy likely influenced the decision despite his evident skill.
Although Canadiens supporters will not see their young offensive defenseman compete in the Olympic Games, the snub may fuel greater determination from Hutson as the new NHL season approaches. Fans remain eagerly curious to witness how he channels this setback into his performance for Montreal.