Craig Button’s Bold Call: Why Lane Hutson Could Edge Out Adam Fox for Team USA’s 2026 Olympic Glory
In the high-stakes world of international hockey, where national pride collides with raw talent on the ice, few opinions carry the weight of TSN analyst Craig Button’s. The former Calgary Flames director of scouting has built a reputation for unflinching assessments that cut through the hype, and his latest bombshell has the NHL community buzzing. On a recent episode of the “Frankly Hockey” podcast with Frank Seravalli, Button delivered what he’s calling a “reality check” to New York Rangers star defenseman Adam Fox: the Montreal Canadiens’ young phenom Lane Hutson deserves a spot on the 2026 U.S. Olympic team ahead of the Norris Trophy winner. It’s the kind of statement that leaves even seasoned pros like Fox momentarily speechless, forcing a deeper look at what it takes to represent your country on the biggest stage.
For Fox, a Long Island native and Rangers alternate captain, the critique stings especially hard. At 27, he’s no stranger to pressure. Drafted 66th overall by the Flames in 2016—after a calculated college route at Harvard that saw him traded to New York—he exploded onto the scene, clinching the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2021 as the league’s top defenseman before his third full season. His vision, puck-moving prowess, and quarterbacking on the power play have made him a cornerstone for the Rangers, amassing 61 points (10 goals, 51 assists) in the 2024-25 campaign despite missing time with a shoulder injury. Fox’s expected goals-for rate of 55.7% that year stood out like a beacon amid the Rangers’ defensive woes, underscoring his individual brilliance in a team that missed the playoffs.
Yet Button, drawing from decades of scouting insight, sees cracks in Fox’s armor that the breakneck pace of modern hockey is exposing. “Adam Fox’s play has become slow and pedestrian,” Button declared bluntly, pointing to Fox’s sluggish start in the 2025-26 season. Through the first 10 games, Fox has tallied just three goals and four assists for seven points, coupled with a minus-2 rating—hardly the output of a perennial All-Star. Button argues that as the NHL evolves into a speed-driven league, Fox’s deliberate style, once a strength, now lags behind the explosive transitions demanded by Olympic play. “The management team from Team USA kind of said specifically after the Four Nations that they didn’t get enough from Adam Fox,” Seravalli added, referencing Fox’s underwhelming showing in that tournament where the U.S. fell short of gold.
Enter Lane Hutson, the 21-year-old Montreal rookie who’s turning heads and rewriting narratives. Selected 62nd overall by the Canadiens in 2022, Hutson skipped the traditional junior grind for a decorated NCAA career at Boston University, where he racked up 97 points in 77 games and snagged the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s top player. His transition to the pros has been seamless; in his first 10 NHL outings this season, Hutson boasts one goal and eight assists for nine points, flashing elite skating, deceptive edges, and a hockey IQ that belies his 5-foot-10 frame. “Lane Hutson should be on the Olympic team ahead of Adam Fox,” Button insisted, praising the kid’s ability to dictate play at both ends. Hutson’s plus-3 rating and penchant for end-to-end rushes evoke memories of a young Quinn Hughes, making him a perfect fit for Team USA’s up-tempo blueprint under general manager Bill Guerin.
This isn’t just scout’s talk—it’s a window into the brutal math of Olympic selection. With the final 2026 roster set to drop in January, USA Hockey has already locked in six players, including defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Zach Werenski, signaling a preference for mobile, versatile blueliners who can handle the best-on-best format. Guerin, appearing on the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast earlier this month, emphasized role acceptance: “Guys have to buy in, no matter where they slot.” For Fox, that could mean a depth role—or the bench—while Hutson’s hot streak positions him as a potential top-four surprise. The Four Nations Face-Off in February 2025 exposed vulnerabilities in the U.S. back end, and Button’s take aligns with whispers from the selection committee: performance trumps pedigree.
Fox, ever the competitor, hasn’t publicly fired back, but those close to him say the words hit home. Offseason training with strength coach Matt Prentiss in Stamford, Connecticut, has Fox laser-focused on rediscovering his edge. “He wants to be great, and he wants to make the Olympic team,” Prentiss told The Athletic in September. As a new dad embracing family time amid the Rangers’ rebuild, Fox’s “mellow” demeanor masks a fire that’s propelled him from Harvard’s frozen ponds to Madison Square Garden’s glare. Yet in a league where youth like Hutson—fresh off a Calder Trophy buzz—challenges the old guard, Fox’s response will define his legacy.
Button’s candor sparks debate, but it’s hockey’s lifeblood: pushing stars to evolve or risk obsolescence. Will Hutson’s flash eclipse Fox’s finesse come Milano-Cortina? As the season unfolds, one thing’s clear—this reality check isn’t just about two defensemen; it’s a rallying cry for Team USA to blend grit with glide in pursuit of Olympic gold. Fans, hold your breath: the puck’s just starting to drop.
