Ben Hutton is looking to crack the Vegas Golden Knights defensive six. Names like Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb stand in his way. The defenseman signed a two-year extension with the Golden Knights last season, giving the team an extremely friendly deal. However, there's no room for Hutton to become part of a pairing, leaving him stuck in a stalemate.
It's not fun when your dream has revolved around playing in the NHL, only to be a reserve player. However, that hasn't stopped Hutton from putting everything on the ice at every opportunity. He still plays hard on every shift, continuing with his life-long vision of being a hockey star.
That's why 2024-25 offers a new horizon for the native of Prescott, Ontario. He can get his time in the spotlight, giving Vegas a cheaper alternative... That is if they move on from Shea Theodore or Brayden McNabb earlier. A starting defenseman who's a $975,000 cap hit for the next two years is a lucrative proposition.
So what does the new hockey season hold for the blue-liner? Will Golden Knights fans finally see Hutton be a regular defender? This year will be interesting for the former Los Angeles King in that he could see his regular stats rise. Here's what Golden Knights fans can expect from the journeyman.
Could Ben Hutton get starting reps in a defensive pair for the Vegas Golden Knights?
Despite losing Alec Martinez to free agency this summer, the Vegas Golden Knights have a surplus of defensemen on their team. Names like Shea Theodore, Brayden McNabb, and Noah Hanifin give the team unshakeable depth. With that depth, the team can have a backup step in for an injured blue-liner. That's where Ben Hutton comes in, for he'll step in when one defender goes down.
Of course, he could also get more playing time with a trade. Having that depth makes it easier to leverage trading for a superstar like, say, Mitch Marner. If two defenders are in the last year of their respective deals and carry sizable cap hits, that makes it easier to deal. With Theodore sitting at a $5.2 million cap hit and McNabb carrying a $2.85 hit, Kelly McCrimmon has options.
It's also easy if the Golden Knights wanted to trade both stars, for they have Hutton and Kaeden Korczak waiting. If McCrimmon balances the lineup out and gets a winger, the former King will get a lineup bump. That'll mean more exposure in different facets, ranging from even strength to even special teams.