HIGHLIGHTS
- Cole Hutson has seven points in nine NHL games, two goals and five assists
- Capitals PR says he is the highest scoring rookie defenseman in franchise history through a player’s first 10 games
- Check out the full breakdown of his early numbers and the names he’s already passed below
Cole Hutson has not been in the NHL long, but he has already started stacking records.
The 19-year-old defenseman picked up a primary assist Saturday night, springing Ryan Leonard for Washington’s third period goal in a 6-2 win over Buffalo. That gave Hutson seven points in nine games, two goals and five assists. Russian Machine Never Breaks notes that Capitals PR now has him as the highest scoring rookie defenseman in franchise history through a player’s first 10 career games.
RMNB’s list is a pretty strong flex, because it includes John Carlson, Scott Stevens, Mike Green, and Sergei Gonchar. None of those guys reached five points before they got to game 11 with Washington.
Hutson played 18:58 against the Sabres and finished plus-2 with two shots. The assist came on a simple read. He had space at the blue line, pulled a defender toward him, and hit Leonard in stride. A lot of his early points have come off plays like that, quick puck movement and a willingness to attack the middle instead of forcing a rim.
Check our Lane Hutson tag page for the family tree. Cole’s game is not a carbon copy, but the hands and the confidence show up fast.
Hutson gets his 10th NHL game Sunday against the Rangers. If he adds anything, he is going to push the number even higher and make it tougher for the next rookie defenseman to touch.
