Vegas Golden Knights fans love to see it: An old star coming back to haunt the Pacific Division rivals who've plagued Vegas in the past. They love seeing the goals come against teams like the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks. It brings about a taste of... schadenfreude?
I guess that's what you can call it? Feel free to correct me in the comments.
Anyway, that's the case with former Golden Knights defenseman Ben Hutton. He scored the game's first goal against the San Jose Sharks on Monday and did the same thing on Saturday against the Anaheim Ducks.
The former Golden Knight fires a shot just above the circle, which squirts past Lukas Dostal to open Saturday's scoring. It's the kind of goal that leaves you smiling from ear to ear. You know that a former Stanley Cup winner is already thriving with a new team, specifically since he's reunited with Pete DeBoer.
Not bad for a player who signed with the Islanders on a one-year, $900,000 deal. Basically, he's signed to prove to New York that he's still worthy of being in the NHL. So far, so good, which is a promising sign for DeBoer's club... and for Golden Knights fans.
Looking back on Ben Hutton's Vegas residency
Hutton was an instrumental part of the Golden Knights during his five-year residency. He scored 14 goals and 34 assists during his Vegas stay, making him one of the most important depth defenseman around. Of course, his duties weren't solely tied to producing offense for Vegas.
He also blocked shots with the Golden Knights, producing 234 blocked shots during his five-year residency. He also had 122 hits and 60 takeaways in that frame, making him the most valuable seventh defenseman (arguably) in franchise history. Hutton also has 2.3 offensive point shares and 8.3 defensive point shares as a Golden Knight, adding more value to Vegas's back end.
But what's even more surprising is how the analytics are treating Hutton's emergence with the Islanders. He has four adjusted goals (three games) and 2.2 adjusted goals created, adding more offense on a blue line that could use the boost. You can rely on Matthew Schaefer so much before the damn bursts offensively.
Imagine what would've happened if the Ottawa Senators picked him up for the season instead of the Islanders. Ottawa would've added an extra win, making them slightly more potent. But that's the case with the Islanders, who are reaping the benefits of three points in games where Hutton scores. Talk about good times for the former Stanley Cup champion coming back once again, eh?
Vegas Golden Knights fans deeply appreciate their former players who made their marks in Las Vegas. They love the guys who come in, contribute, and leave a lasting impact on the city. Think of names such as Reilly Smith, Marc-Andre Fleury, and Ryan Reaves. That's no different with Hutton, who's showing that he still has that spark at the ripe ol' age of 33.
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