CANUCKS’ HUTTON STRUTTIN’
Blue-liner has elevated his game
Jim Benning won’t be active before the NHL holiday roster freeze commences Wednesday.
The Vancouver Canucks’ general manager is content with a collective competitiveness that has forged a six-game unbeaten streak (5-0-1) heading into today’s test against the highoctane Tampa Bay Lightning at Rogers Arena.
“I don’t have that much talk with other teams right now and I’m not going to do anything before the freeze,” Benning said Monday. “It seems like we’re getting confidence within the group and if we do anything, it will be after the Christmas break.”
When the roster freeze expires Dec. 27, managers will take a closer look at the struggling and frequently scratched Andre Burakovsky, who has five goals in 25 games. The Washington Capitals have fielded numerous calls on the under-achieving, 23-yearold winger, who’s on an expiring contract that pays US$3 million this season.
As long as you don’t go into sticker shock at the asking price — the Capitals want a similar roster player in return — it’s a way to get younger faster.
Last season, that scenario could have hounded Ben Hutton.
The defenceman was defeated. He had but six assists, lost the trust of coach Travis Green and a roster spot. Scratched seven times in a span of 15 games — including four straight in February — he was at the career crossroads, but never asked to be traded.
Fast forward and Hutton is among the good-news stories. At 25, he’s no longer a babyfaced kid. And with an expiring contract, the onus is on the pending restricted free agent to make sure he’s part of the future.
Hutton trained like a demon with Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux and is leaner, meaner and hungrier. His 13 points (4-9) through 34 games lead a battered back end challenged by injuries to Alex Edler and Chris Tanev, suspect decision-making by Derrick Pouliot and a reluctance to play Michael Del Zotto. He has been a healthy scratch the last six games and eight straight in October.
With Edler, Del Zotto and Pouliot also on expiring contracts — and prospects Quinn Hughes and Olli Juolevi on the roster horizon — the defence is going to look different next fall. It’s up to Hutton, whose 21:24 of average ice is second to Edler’s 22:25, to stay in the conversation.
“I’ve always felt it takes defencemen longer to develop,” added Benning.
“He was challenged at the end of the year to play faster and quicker. So far, he’s been good and reliable and I think he’s back on course.”
What you see today in Hutton is what you didn’t see a year ago.
In the past, he might have forced a pass through traffic when pressured and have it turned over. Now, he’ll retreat behind the net, get set and then start the transition.
“The game is so fast, you have to make split-second decisions and that comes with a little bit of confidence,” said Hutton. “Last year, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to keep the puck on my stick and cut back and make a play. It was live to fight another
day and just chip it (puck) out and let the forwards get it.
“I feel like I’m stronger and just that half step quicker to be able to make a play or get to the puck first.”
Erik Gudbranson admires Hutton’s resolve. The 2012 fifthround draft choice seemed light years away from a happy-golucky 2015-16 rookie campaign in which he was second in rookie assists (24) by a blue-liner and third in points.
“He has been sharper and much more confident and obviously stronger in battles in the corner,” said Gudbranson. “The simplicity and keeping the puck in front of him is not complicating his life. He manages his game extremely well.”
Maybe the coach put it best. “His compete level is higher,” said Green. “Last year, it wasn’t like he was a lazy person. He wasn’t in as good a shape and I thought it affected him, maybe not on a daily basis but on backto-back days. And if you have a hard practice, can you come back the next day and be quick off the mark?
“I just didn’t think he was quite where he needed to be. Give him credit. He has put the work in and he also knows how I am. If you don’t play well, things can change fast. So far, pretty good job.”
It seems like we’re getting confidence within the group and if we do anything, it will be after the Christmas break.