I mean, it depends what kind of top pairing it would be.Why do you believe Guhle doesn't have top pair upside? I mean, just watching him actually play top pair this year should give pause to that belief but let's hear it.
If you're expecting Guhle to be the #1 guy PP/PK and put up 60+pts a year. No I don't think he has that offensive potential.
Defensively, I think he does, which is why I think he'd look good on a top pair next to a great offensive Dman where he can hang back a bit and play more of an all-round game.
To me I see Guhle as the Ryan Lindgren to an Adam Fox (if that makes any sense). Though even than, I think Guhle's got more offense in him than Lindgren does.
I don't think Hutson is bad defensively, to be honest I just haven't seen enough of him to be concrete about that I just think he's always going to have limitations in that area because of his size. I get that not every player is going to defend using his physical gifts, some use their brains and that's where Hutson is likely to have success in.Hutsons is not as bad defensively as you think he is. He's been holding up his end very good against men in the NCAA and will do so in the NHL. He has one thing Matheson doesn't have: a brain. Don't underestimate the value of hockey IQ and processing power.
However, by nature, any Dman who handles the puck as much as he does and will, is going to turn the puck over and to add to that, there are physical confrontations that he's never going to be able to come out on top of.
His best defense in the NHL will likely be spending as little time as possible in his defensive zone when he's out on shifts.