Saucerman deserves a call up.

a) Great Name
b) Great Beard
c) Fan favorite potential


- VanHockeyGuy

He doesn't have an NHL contract...

I'm really curious what these are.
- Lindenis#1

They're related to a players ability to:

a) suppress shots/limit shots in key areas
b) turnovers in the defensive zone
c) Successfully transition out of the d-zone
d) winning puck battles/defensive turnover

Hutton is not good at any of these things in top4 against top lines, other that pullout he has the most turnovers. He's second only to EG in suppression (who are both also terrible). His transition game is his only redeeming feature, given that he turns over the puck so much it's really not great. Puck battles... speak for themselves.

He doesn't have an NHL contract...
- 1970vintage

I see he's also on loan to Utica

That was a game I didn't expect to get heated! Close game until the end which was nice. I like the team sticking up for each other!

Intentionally dirty or not, if the Refs make a more appropriate call on the ice it likely ends the shenanigans. After that both teams did what they had to.
- 1970vintage

I agree, if it was at minimum a 5 minute misconduct then you probably wouldn't have seen as much of a chippy game.

They're related to a players ability to:

a) suppress shots/limit shots in key areas
b) turnovers in the defensive zone
c) Successfully transition out of the d-zone
d) winning puck battles/defensive turnover

Hutton is not good at any of these things in top4 against top lines, other that pullout he has the most turnovers. He's second only to EG in suppression (who are both also terrible). His transition game is his only redeeming feature, given that he turns over the puck so much it's really not great. Puck battles... speak for themselves.
- neem55

He's actually pretty decent on those metrics... except when he's tied to Gudbranson.

On any given night he wins as many of his 50-50s as he loses. I'd consider him pretty neutral on puck battles. For all his size, Gudbranson loses a ton of them seemingly because he can't make a good play and often just shovels the puck into unsupported ice. For his lack of size, Stecher wins far more than he has any right to win. I'd say Tanev and Edler are the only 2 that are probably above 50% if anyone was tracking it reliably.

Funnily enough whichever D is paired with MDZ or EG tanks in all those metrics. Hutton with Tanev, positive numbers. Hutton with Stecher, fine if unspectacular. Hutton with Gudbranson, 2nd last in everything.

Find me an NHL defender who put up 9 goals and 23 assists in a season (his current pace) and got < $3m on their next contract, regardless of their corsi%/fenwick%
- 1970vintage

Nathan Bealieu
4 goals 24 assists then two years 2.4 aav
9 points last season and 6 this season

and

Thomas Hickey
5 goals 20 assists then four years 2.5 aav
4 points this season

I couldn't do it. I wasn't going to go back 5 years or anything though.

They're related to a players ability to:

a) suppress shots/limit shots in key areas
b) turnovers in the defensive zone
c) Successfully transition out of the d-zone
d) winning puck battles/defensive turnover

Hutton is not good at any of these things in top4 against top lines, other that pullout he has the most turnovers. He's second only to EG in suppression (who are both also terrible). His transition game is his only redeeming feature, given that he turns over the puck so much it's really not great. Puck battles... speak for themselves.
- neem55

I think your confirmation bias is getting the better of you.

Nathan Bealieu
4 goals 24 assists then two years 2.4 aav
9 points last season and 6 this season

and

Thomas Hickey
5 goals 20 assists then four years 2.5 aav
4 points this season

I couldn't do it. I wasn't going to go back 5 years or anything though.
- manvanfan

Hickey never made less on a contract than previous once becoming a regular.

Bealieu is Pouliot. Pouliot is Bealieu. Sheltered role and got lost in the shuffle once the team found players that could skate backwards.

He's actually pretty decent on those metrics... except when he's tied to Gudbranson.

On any given night he wins as many of his 50-50s as he loses. I'd consider him pretty neutral on puck battles. For all his size, Gudbranson loses a ton of them seemingly because he can't make a good play and often just shovels the puck into unsupported ice. For his lack of size, Stecher wins far more than he has any right to win. I'd say Tanev and Edler are the only 2 that are probably above 50% if anyone was tracking it reliably.

Funnily enough whichever D is paired with MDZ or EG tanks in all those metrics. Hutton with Tanev, positive numbers. Hutton with Stecher, fine if unspectacular. Hutton with Gudbranson, 2nd last in everything.
- Lindenis#1

Sigh, Hutton fanboys always blame Hutton’s shortcomings on Guddy. Watch the kid play. He (frank)ing sucks! Although I will concede that I think he is an NHL dman this year and last year he definitely was not. Baby steps

I think your confirmation bias is getting the better of you.
- 1970vintage

You need more baileys

Sigh, Hutton fanboys always blame Hutton’s shortcomings on Guddy. Watch the kid play. He (frank)ing sucks! Although I will concede that I think he is an NHL dman this year and last year he definitely was not. Baby steps
- CanuckDon

Boat unable to leave port blames inability to leave on anchor.

He'll get his 10/3yrs and it won't be a negative unless he goes in the tank.

Nathan Bealieu
4 goals 24 assists then two years 2.4 aav
9 points last season and 6 this season

and

Thomas Hickey
5 goals 20 assists then four years 2.5 aav
4 points this season

I couldn't do it. I wasn't going to go back 5 years or anything though.
- manvanfan

So perhaps there are "close" compatibles, but in the "new" NHL with rising salary cap $3 ish million for a 30 ish point D man is pretty normal yes?

You need more baileys
- CanuckDon

You mistake my position as Hutton love rather than understanding of current NHL demand for d-men

Edit - also, Gudbranson still sucks

He's actually pretty decent on those metrics... except when he's tied to Gudbranson.

On any given night he wins as many of his 50-50s as he loses. I'd consider him pretty neutral on puck battles. For all his size, Gudbranson loses a ton of them seemingly because he can't make a good play and often just shovels the puck into unsupported ice. For his lack of size, Stecher wins far more than he has any right to win. I'd say Tanev and Edler are the only 2 that are probably above 50% if anyone was tracking it reliably.

Funnily enough whichever D is paired with MDZ or EG tanks in all those metrics. Hutton with Tanev, positive numbers. Hutton with Stecher, fine if unspectacular. Hutton with Gudbranson, 2nd last in everything.
- Lindenis#1

No he isn't good on any of them, he's worse with a worse d-man (everyone is). It's not really relevant that he plays better with good dmen. He himself, adjusted for competition, is not good against top6 lines and brings down good players' numbers. I think he's a capable bottom pair/PP guy. Points are great, you need to be able to defend. Stecher is better at every aspect of the game, although offensively you could argue he's better but hard to say.

So perhaps there are "close" compatibles, but in the "new" NHL with rising salary cap $3 ish million for a 30 ish point D man is pretty normal yes?
- 1970vintage

Ryan Murray signed the same contract this year as two years previous. Difference in cap is 3.96% in 2016-17 and 18-19 is 3.55%

That's a 300,000 difference just thanks to the cap ceiling going up if he got to keep his 3.96%

Ryan Murray signed the same contract this year as two years previous. Difference in cap is 3.96% in 2016-17 and 18-19 is 3.55%

That's a 300,000 difference just thanks to the cap ceiling going up if he got to keep his 3.96%
- manvanfan

Ryan Murray can defend

Ryan Murray can defend
- neem55

Neither can Noah Hanifin and he got 4.95

You mistake my position as Hutton love rather than understanding of current NHL demand for d-men
- 1970vintage

He's a fine enough player. There's no reason for him to not be in the long term plans of this team.

The team could do a lot worse than having him on the second pair.

Neither can Noah Hanifin and he got 4.95
- manvanfan

I said CAN defend. And so can Hanafin, he's having a great year. So is Murray. I really wish that Hutton was as good or had as much potential as either but I don't honesty see him playing better in his own end.

I said CAN defend. And so can Hanafin, he's having a great year. So is Murray. I really wish that Hutton was as good or had as much potential as either but I don't honesty see him playing better in his own end.
- neem55

I'll admit that Hutton is not as good as either of them. Murray and Hanifin IMO are 3's. Hutton is not a 3. Maybe a 4.5

A difference of almost 2 million dollars between a 3 (Hanifin) and Hutton a 4.5 shouldn't be over 2 million dollars. Maybe at 2 million as in Hutton making 2.95 AAV.

It's just where contracts are these days.

Edit: I did miss read "can" I honestly thought it said can't because I don't think he's that good at defending. "Ok" but not good.

I'll admit that Hutton is not as good as either of them. Murray and Hanifin IMO are 3's. Hutton is not a 3. Maybe a 4.5

A difference of almost 2 million dollars between a 3 (Hanifin) and Hutton a 4.5 shouldn't be over 2 million dollars. Maybe at 2 million as in Hutton making 2.95 AAV.

It's just where contracts are these days.

Edit: I did miss read "can" I honestly thought it said can't because I don't think he's that good at defending. "Ok" but not good.
- manvanfan

While I agree the market dictates salary, I think the market for bottom pair dmen is quite a bit lower. I kind of hope they are keeping him top4 to trade him if I'm being honest.

Hey Carol, you sit up in the press box regularly for home games, right? Who is the old guy who always sits in the same place, back row, long white hair but bald on top? Just curious...

While I agree the market dictates salary, I think the market for bottom pair dmen is quite a bit lower. I kind of hope they are keeping him top4 to trade him if I'm being honest.
- neem55

Bortuzzo 1.375
Sbisa 1.5
Jerabek 1
Petrovic 1.95
Polak 1.3


I would put Hutton ahead of all of those guys. Heck the first 4 are pretty much 7-8 D on most teams.