I don't hate Hutton...I just think he is their worst D and is treated with kid gloves. He makes terrible decisions too frequently. I felt bad for EG all season as somehow he was getting the blame.
- CanuckDon

Then how would you explain his improved play (pre-injury obviously) in Gudbranson's absence?

True. Hope BB can spark that with others here. Don't know if this draft has another better then him to add.
- Nuck4U

A playmaker like a Giroux or Gaudreau is the other way to go make the PP click.
Anyone driving the play is what we lack.

I don't hate Hutton...I just think he is their worst D and is treated with kid gloves. He makes terrible decisions too frequently. I felt bad for EG all season as somehow he was getting the blame.
- CanuckDon

Alot of the time that Gudbranson got burned by the other teams forwards, is because he was covering for Hutton who doesnt pick good times to go be offensive

lol.

The feeling is mutual.

Here you are whining about the lack of offense yet think the 22 year old kid who's on pace to score more goals then Gud's overall point total is the problem.
- Whiskey-Tango

I believe Hutton is something like 5th on the team behind the twins, Horvat and Baertschi for the most points on the entire team since Jan 1st last year. People always complain about needing more offense from our D and they want to get rid of our highest scoring one

Yes he makes mistakes. It's his second season in the league. Give it time jeez

I don't hate Hutton...I just think he is their worst D and is treated with kid gloves. He makes terrible decisions too frequently. I felt bad for EG all season as somehow he was getting the blame.
- CanuckDon

I get that especially seeing Sbisa pass him. Just he's still young and green enough to learn. Tools are there. Long term development or at least a couple years he can fit up there. OJ and Tree can be top pair after Edler & Tanev move on. He can pair with Stech or Guddy again 3/4. Brisbois taking the other in 3rd pair.

But the line "his grand highlight reels always consisted of him chasing forwards into our own defensive zone" is funny as hell.
- bloatedmosquito

Check it out for yourself, literally every highlight reel consists of him punching people in the face for five minutes with occasional diving play to try and prevent a break-a-way.

If only we had a time machine to insert him in the 1980's line-up.

When we had Salo Edler & Erhoff as threats we were dangerous on the PP.
- Nighthawk

I watched a whole episode of Canuck TV last night for the first time. Separate Edler and Tanev interviews.

what kind of hit me in the face was:

Edler has been here for 10 years.

2011 is really a long time ago.

I don't hate Hutton...I just think he is their worst D and is treated with kid gloves. He makes terrible decisions too frequently. I felt bad for EG all season as somehow he was getting the blame.
- CanuckDon

Even if this was true, it's the most difficult position to learn. This is his second year.

Alot of the time that Gudbranson got burned by the other teams forwards, is because he was covering for Hutton who doesnt pick good times to go be offensive
- phyllee

Yeah saw that. But he can learn. His point totals went up with Edler & Tanev back. Less mistakes with easier minutes.

Even if this was true, it's the most difficult position to learn. This is his second year.
- VanHockeyGuy

You are correct. I'm not advocating sending him to the minors

Good god man.
Both the eye-test and stats fundamentally disprove that.
Guds could barely pass/swipe/shoot the puck out of the defensive zone, let alone actually skate it out.

His grand highlight reels always consisted of him chasing forwards into our own defensive zone.
- Whiskey-Tango

Actually, the eye test and stats both support that regardless of who Hutton is paired with, he cannot handle being deployed in the top-4. This is something that dates back to last season. Gudbranson on the other hand has been deployed in the top-4 successfully in the past.

Then how would you explain his improved play (pre-injury obviously) in Gudbranson's absence?
- Whiskey-Tango

Tanev and Edler came back and he was moved to the bottom pair

Even if this was true, it's the most difficult position to learn. This is his second year.
- VanHockeyGuy

You are correct. I'm not advocating sending him to the minors
- CanuckDon

He doesn't, he needs to gain experience, like Tryamkin & Stecher.

Actually, the eye test and stats both support that regardless of who Hutton is paired with, he cannot handle being deployed in the top-4. This is something that dates back to last season. Gudbranson on the other hand has been deployed in the top-4 successfully in the past.
- neem55

I would be interested to see how you quantify that ?

Hutton Tanev were very good last year.

Hutton Tryamkin were okay this year (2nd most common line-mate)

- NorthNuck

I don't think anyone is saying Hutton sucks...folks are simply pointing out he has a lot to learn

Even if this was true, it's the most difficult position to learn. This is his second year.
- VanHockeyGuy

Exactly. Which is why you don't throw him into top4 minutes when he has so much to learn. He's a bottom pair guy and PP specialist for now. Let him learn in a way he can be successful, not getting torched night in and night out.

I don't think anyone is saying Hutton sucks...folks are simply pointing out he has a lot to learn
- CanuckDon

Most definitely, I think the point of contention is that he is the main reason Gudbranson has been a disappointment.

It is probably part of the reason, as is Guddy's injury but even despite those things occurring Erik was playing some pretty terrible hockey.

I would be interested to see how you quantify that ?

Hutton Tanev were very good last year.

Hutton Tryamkin were okay this year (2nd most common line-mate)
- belcherbd

It's pretty straight forward. You take his stats from when he started to play top-4 minutes last year and you compare them to the games he played the first half of last year(bottom pair) and realize he was statistically our worst top-4 d-man in that time period in the top-4. His bottom pair minutes (his first half of last year) were very impressive. Injury put him over his head, bad management has kept him there.

Actually, the eye test and stats both support that regardless of who Hutton is paired with, he cannot handle being deployed in the top-4. This is something that dates back to last season. Gudbranson on the other hand has been deployed in the top-4 successfully in the past.
- neem55

Judging from their play this season, be it together or not, they both struggled defensively.

The issue is however, only one of them is billed as a defensive defenseman.

If Hutton looks anything like E.G defensively after FIVE NHL seasons then I'm with you.

I don't think anyone is saying Hutton sucks...folks are simply pointing out he has a lot to learn
- CanuckDon

I don't disagree with that. But many here like to say patience patience patience. Practice what is preached?

I don't disagree with that. But many here like to say patience patience patience. Practice what is preached?
- NorthNuck

Im patient with him I don't mind mistakes from the kids

Im patient with him I don't mind mistakes from the kids
- CanuckDon

I just would hate to see him traded for not much and then become a really good Dman for another team

Most definitely, I think the point of contention is that he is the main reason Gudbranson has been a disappointment.

It is probably part of the reason, as is Guddy's injury but even despite those things occurring Erik was playing some pretty terrible hockey.
- belcherbd

Gudbranson clearly needs a veteran partner still, he's not quite ready to be the mentor. Hutton has not played well, even with Hamhuis he constantly exposed himself. Gudbranson/Tanev, Stecher/edler. Tree, Sbisa and Stecher are making cases for themselves, but only one of them really has the experience to take on more minutes IMO. It's a marathon to play D in the NHL, you cant rush it (ask Hutton).

Judging from their play this season, be it together or not, they both struggled defensively.

The issue is however, only one of them is billed as a defensive defenseman.

If Hutton looks anything like E.G defensively after FIVE NHL seasons then I'm with you.
- Whiskey-Tango

New system, new teammates, new opponents and new expectations. The guy deserves a lot more slack than people such as yourself are giving. I have confidence he will adjust and be successful in Van as a top-4 guy.