Cole Hutson keeps flashing the upside that makes him such an intriguing young defenseman, but he’s not pretending the rough edges aren’t there.
After the Washington Capitals’ 5-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils, Hutson was blunt about where his game stands.
“I'm just not playing well enough,” the young Washington Capitals defenseman with just 31 NHL games under his belt said. “Simple as that. I can make some plays offensively, but it doesn't matter when you're here making mistakes defensively, constantly.
“So, gotta be a little bit better.”
That honesty came after another night that showed both sides of his game. Hutson picked up an assist, giving him 12 points on the season and five in his last five games. He now leads all rookie defensemen in scoring and sits second overall among rookies.
Still, the mistakes were part of the story too. An early penalty helped set up a Devils goal, and later he got caught up ice when Stefan Noesen scored an insurance goal late with Washington down 3-2.
That push-and-pull has followed Hutson from the start. He’s the kind of player who wants to drive the play, take chances and create offense from the back end. He showed that same edge in the same Prudential Center on April 2, when he scored his first goal on a goaltender with an impressive breakaway finish.
But that style comes with risk, and the fit around him matters. Early this season, with Matt Roy out, Hutson had a tougher time because he needed a partner who could help cover for his aggressive instincts.
The waiver claim of Jack St. Ivany from the Winnipeg Jets changed that, giving Hutson the support he needed to play his game without so much of the downside.
“Young players, like Cole, that's just part of learning to play in the National Hockey League, especially as a defenseman that's spent no time in the American League, so there's gonna be great nights, and there's gonna be not-so-great nights,” Carbery said. “It’s about him learning and continuing to develop, and that’s when he’s done a tremendous [job].”
Hutson’s week has already included a milestone. On Tuesday, he scored his first career NHL game-winning goal in overtime in Ottawa. Two nights later, he was still focused on the next step.
“Go over the mistakes I made,” Hutson said. “Try and get better every day, move the needle a little bit.”
That’s the story with Hutson right now: plenty of skill, plenty of growth still ahead, and a young player who knows exactly where the work remains.
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