Lane Hutson Snub by Team USA Creates Major Contract Dilemma for Kent Hughes

Unfortunately many experts still doubt his true value because of his size.

The non-selection of Lane Hutson at Team USA's first camp ahead of the Olympic Games puts Kent Hughes in a delicate situation regarding contract negotiations with Lane Hutson.

Let's be honest, if Lane Hutson were 2.5 inches taller, he would probably already be a "lock" on the American roster.

But that is not the case, and doubts remain in the minds of NHL general managers about the young defenseman's ability to be reliable in his own end. It must be said that in the past, smaller defensemen like Will Butcher and Shayne Gostisbehere suffered serious drop-offs after an offensively impressive rookie season.

Marco D'Amico reported this morning that Lane Hutson's camp was stung by Bill Guerin's decision not to invite him to Team USA's camp.

This means the young man will start the season hungrier than ever, and considering his history of silencing critics, we can assume Lane Hutson will have an even more impressive season than his rookie year.

With the salary cap set to rise drastically in the coming years, the risk of the young defenseman skyrocketing his value this season is very real.

Kent Hughes will therefore have to decide which risk he is more comfortable taking: handing Hutson a lucrative deal right now after just one season, or waiting for a second full season that could confirm he truly belongs among the elite on the blue line.