How good is Ben Hutton?
- Thread starter Stephen Gionta
- Start date
PetterssonSimp
Registered User
- Dec 12, 2008
- 7,374
- 917
Imho Ben Hutton is a guy you want to play the defensive side of the pairing, when having a right side defender who can move the puck up the ice better than him.
If you need a guy who can defend the blue line well, make quality breakups and be above average inside the defensive zone he’s pretty good.
Things you don’t ask him, to carry or transition the puck from defensive to offensive zone.
Should be a solid 3rd LHD option in the high 2’s or low 3 million range.
If you need a guy who can defend the blue line well, make quality breakups and be above average inside the defensive zone he’s pretty good.
Things you don’t ask him, to carry or transition the puck from defensive to offensive zone.
Should be a solid 3rd LHD option in the high 2’s or low 3 million range.
So why hasn't he signed anywhere yet?.....one of the most surprising guy still on the market, but then Jake Gardiner hasn't signed anywhere yet either. So maybe Hutton and his agent are trying to squeeze the last dollar and term out of a new deal. But in a league where there's apparently a shortage of d-men, it's surprising that a team like the Oilers, Canadians or the Devils haven't rolled the dice on him.
TruGr1t
Proper Villain
- Jun 26, 2003
- 23,140
- 6,818
He's actually fairly good at zone exits and not bad with the puck on his stick. Until it involves zone entries with possession and then he's not very good. That continues into the offensive zone where he's recently been quite useless.
Coincidentally, he's also at his best defensively at his own blue line and has pretty good stats in terms of breakups and entry. But when he gets deep down low he sometimes breaks down defensively due to a tendency to avoid physical contact, or over commit funny enough, and try play the puck with his stick. This tends to make him look kinda weak despite his size, and can cause "chicken with his head cut off" issues against the cycle. And drive Travis Green nuts.
Overall he's a pretty good utility player that can move up the lineup in a pinch, but is probably best utilized in a complimentary defensive role on your second or third pair.
Coincidentally, he's also at his best defensively at his own blue line and has pretty good stats in terms of breakups and entry. But when he gets deep down low he sometimes breaks down defensively due to a tendency to avoid physical contact, or over commit funny enough, and try play the puck with his stick. This tends to make him look kinda weak despite his size, and can cause "chicken with his head cut off" issues against the cycle. And drive Travis Green nuts.
Overall he's a pretty good utility player that can move up the lineup in a pinch, but is probably best utilized in a complimentary defensive role on your second or third pair.
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Decent 2nd pairing or very good 3rd pairing guy.
Point production and transition game and offensive results have never really matched the eye test - seems like a skilled guy with good hands and a good feel for the game but it just never translates into actual offense at ES. Defensively is solid although not someone you want matched up against top opposition lines consistently. Defends zone entries well and although not physical or fast has a strong low center of mass and is surprisingly effective in the corners and in puck battles. Does occasionally puck-watch against the rush and get burned for highlight-reel goals.
+/- numbers look horrible but there have basically been two Ben Huttons for the past 3 years - one that struggled next to the trainwreck that was Erik Gudbranson and another that was solidly effective playing with literally anyone else. If memory serves he was a -24 with Gudbranson last year and a +1 without.
Point production and transition game and offensive results have never really matched the eye test - seems like a skilled guy with good hands and a good feel for the game but it just never translates into actual offense at ES. Defensively is solid although not someone you want matched up against top opposition lines consistently. Defends zone entries well and although not physical or fast has a strong low center of mass and is surprisingly effective in the corners and in puck battles. Does occasionally puck-watch against the rush and get burned for highlight-reel goals.
+/- numbers look horrible but there have basically been two Ben Huttons for the past 3 years - one that struggled next to the trainwreck that was Erik Gudbranson and another that was solidly effective playing with literally anyone else. If memory serves he was a -24 with Gudbranson last year and a +1 without.
RandV
It's a wolf v2.0
I'd take a rough guesstimate and say he has comparable value to Will Butcher, with less offense but better defense. Probably wouldn't hurt if there's no one else available but if you're starting with a LD of Greene, Butcher, and Mueller then if you're trying to build a competitive team you probably want someone better than Hutton - like paying the price for Gardiner.
Stephen Gionta
Boston College > Boston University
Thanks a lot guys. Keep the responses coming if you can. More information the better! I hope the NJD can sign him
Hutton is definitely not a guy you want as a shutdown Dman. With him, the sum is less than his parts. His underlying stats suggest that he's a good neutral zone defender. He's also pretty good at exiting with possession. But his D down low isn't good. That's why Jordie Benn is seen as a huge upgrade defensively. Hutton has good size but he doesn't play physical. He has a good shot and can carry the puck but somehow he hasn't put things together and put up good offensive production.
Basically, many of us see Hutton as a guy who should be a solid 2nd pairing Dman who can produce offensively. But that never materialized.
Trying to figure out which pairing works for Hutton is a bit difficult as he has never played in a pairing where you can say he made a positive impact.
Basically, many of us see Hutton as a guy who should be a solid 2nd pairing Dman who can produce offensively. But that never materialized.
Trying to figure out which pairing works for Hutton is a bit difficult as he has never played in a pairing where you can say he made a positive impact.
PetterssonSimp
Registered User
- Dec 12, 2008
- 7,374
- 917
Intangibos
High-End Intangibos
Underrated, plays well with a competent partner. He spent two seasons playing with one of the worst defencemen in the league that made Edler look bad. When our top 2 D were injured he was moved away from Gudbranson and was playing 28 mins a night with Stetcher and looked quite good in that showing until he started to tire. Since neither of them are top pairing guys I think they did exceedingly well playing 28 minutes as a top defensive pairing.
He isn't an all-star or anything, but he's fine. I wouldn't say he's a slam dunk top-4 though. I could easily see him become one on the proper pairing with good coaching, but it is a gamble to count on him filling that role. He's the kind of guy you sign to play on your bottom pairing hoping he'll move up if given opportunities.
Offensively he's been quite poor, but every now and then he shows flashes that he might have at least a little bit of offensive potential. From time to time you'll see him skate the puck up the ice or go to the net. Again, a gamble to see if he'll every develop that part of his game. Defensively one of my biggest problems with him is when a winger is coming in with speed. He is fine at breaking up zone entries but when a guy is moving he seems to get walked pretty frequently, but that could be an eye-test thing not based in reality.
So if you're looking for a surefire top 4 shutdown D he isn't your guy. You want him as your #3 LHD so if he puts it together you'll be very strong on the left side with him behind whoever your actual #2 LHD is.
Average stick positioning, not physical or aggressive, skating and stick handling is alright for a 3rd pairing guy. Needs a partner that can carry the offensive side of the game because he’s pretty limited offensively, defensively he’s alright.
If he signs for around 2.5 -3mil than it’s a good deal imo.
If he signs for around 2.5 -3mil than it’s a good deal imo.
Tobi Wan Kenobi
Registered User
Hutton is brutal with reading the play and and his transition mobility sucks and get's caught flat footed too often. He's a good skater north south but as a defenseman you need side to side mobility more. He can be sluggish as well. He can make decent plays here and there but he's a 6/7 on a good team
EpochLink
Canucks and Jets fan
Stephen Gionta
Boston College > Boston University
Has his moments and stretches of play where he looks legit, has a mostly good first pass and plays solid defense. Honestly, he gets caught flat footed and gets beat quite a bit. Not great on special teams. Average/slightly below average 2nd pair or a good 3rd pairing D.
Like you said, he's a very effective transition defenseman. Pretty effective at zone exits and entry defense. Like a "new-age" defenseman. He's a guy who could comfortably slot on a second pair with a good partner, or make for a very good #5 defenseman. He's not a natural point producer, and his in-zone defending needs work, so he's probably best utilized in medium-difficulty minutes. Agreed on all fronts.
As for the bolded....Hutton has been quite effective and had positive results on pretty much any pair without Gudbranson. Hutton/Tanev were extremely effective in a tough minutes role, and Hutton/Stecher were cromulent when they had to run as the #1 pair when injuries hit, although they did tail off just due to the sheer burden placed upon them.
I think he can be a solid complimentary Dman. For what it's worth, Tanev was still playing at a 1st pairing Dman level when he was paired with Hutton. I do think that Hutton can still put it all together. Last season he came to camp in shape. If he finds a way to actually produce offensively and improve his D zone play a bit he's a solid 2nd pairing Dman.
Intangibos
High-End Intangibos
I like Stetcher, he's actually one of my favourite Canucks, but do you think Stetcher is good enough to carry a #6/7 guy for 25+ minutes a night against top lines when Edler/Tanev were out?
Billy Kvcmu
Registered User
Serviceable bottom pair D
A player that a part of this fan base weirdly gets attached to just like Brendon Gaunce
A player that a part of this fan base weirdly gets attached to just like Brendon Gaunce
Billy Kvcmu
Registered User
I mean he sort of did it this past season
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