The early buzz around Cole Hutson keeps getting louder, and now it’s coming from some of the NHL’s other top prospects. The Washington Capitals rookie, drafted 43rd overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, has already put together a start that has people talking about bigger things ahead.
Last season, Hutson logged three goals and seven assists for 10 points in 14 games, and he showed he could handle the pace at the NHL level. That was enough for several prospects to circle him as a serious Calder Trophy candidate in 2026-27, the award given to the league’s best rookie.
In a recent piece for The Hockey News, Frank Zawrasky asked Porter Martone, Cole Hutson and another Capitals prospect, Andrew Cristall, for their picks. Martone pointed to Hutson right away, saying, "You saw what Cole did last year going up," while Vegas Golden Knights prospect Trevor Connolly went even further and predicted Hutson would win "for sure." Cristall split the difference and said he thought the race would come down to either Hutson or Martone.
Hutson himself sounded like a player who knows the jump is real. At the end of last season, he said, "I've learned a lot... it was an unbelievable experience for me, I learned so much so fast about the game and how hard it really is to play at this level consistently. So, it's just a head start for next year, and hopefully, I'm ready to kind of stay in the league."
That head start matters for Washington, too. Hutson is expected to anchor the power play and provide an important layer to the Capitals’ defensive depth as they chase a playoff berth. With a busy offseason bringing in several strong additions, Washington looks built for a serious push, one that could carry it toward its first Stanley Cup since 2018 and its second in franchise history.
And if Hutson keeps trending the way people around the league expect, he won’t just be part of that push. He could be one of the reasons it happens. He already looks like the kind of offensive force who can drive a rookie race, and a Norris Trophy mention wouldn’t be out of the question either.
In Other News...
Capitals First-Round Pick Is Already Embracing A Tom Wilson Edge
Oliver Suvanto did not need long after going 18th overall in the 2026 NHL Draft to make clear what kind of player he wants to be for the Capitals. The young center talked about his physical edge and said Tom Wilson has shaped the way he thinks about the game, a fitting reference point for a prospect joining a franchise that has long valued players who can do more than just put up points. Washington also sees a pretty specific future for him, with assistant general manager Ross Mahoney saying the club envisions Suvanto as a second-line center in short order.
The appeal is obvious, even if the production is still coming along. Suvanto had 11 points in 48 games with Tappara Tampere in the Finnish Liiga, while also showing well in U18 and U20 competition, giving the Capitals a mix of upside, pedigree and edge to work with. For a team trying to keep adding size and competitiveness down the middle, the idea of a young center who already leans into that Wilson-like mentality is enough to make him one of the more interesting names from this draft class. [Read more 🡒]
Boone Jenner Gives Capitals Young Forwards Exactly What They Needed
Boone Jenner arrives in Washington with the kind of resume that tends to matter even more once the games get grinding. After 13 seasons with the Blue Jackets, the veteran forward signed a four-year contract with the Capitals, bringing the type of leadership and steady two-way presence that can help steady a roster leaning on a younger wave of forwards. He is expected to fit into multiple roles, including penalty killing, which only adds to the value of a player who has already spent years handling heavy responsibilities.
For a Capitals group built around familiar names such as Tom Wilson, Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome, Jenners addition gives the room another experienced voice to lean on. He has already made clear he is ready to help however he can, and for a team trying to balance development with immediate expectations, that kind of flexibility can be just as important as scoring touch. The next question is how quickly his presence changes the way Washington can deploy its forward lines when the season starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]