Cole Hutson passes J.D. Forrest for all-time USNTDP points record by a defenseman

Cole Hutson has set the USA Hockey National Team Development Program record for most points all time by a defenseman with 112.

The previous record was held by J.D. Forrest, who accumulated 111 points throughout his two-year campaign.

Hutson has tallied 22 goals and 90 assists for 112 points in 109 games.

The 18-year-old defender registered a secondary assist on Teddy Stiga’s goal, making it 2-0 just eight seconds into the final round-robin game of the U-18 World Championship against Finland.

Projected to go in the first two rounds of the 2024 NHL Draft, Hutson has four points in three games at the U-18 World Hockey Championship in Finland this week. During last year’s U-18 tournament in Switzerland, Hutson’s offensive game was on full display as he tallied 12 points in seven games, leading the tournament among defensemen.

Hutson is committed to playing for the Boston University Terriers next season in the NCAA, following in the footsteps of his brother and former Hobey Baker Award nominee, Lane.

The North Barrington, Illinois product was listed as one of the top-20 2024 draft prospects to watch at the U18’s on Daily Faceoff prospect expert Steven Ellis’s list.

“Hutson made waves by putting up 12 points in seven games as an underaged player a year ago, marking his territory as one of the best blueliners in the tournament,” Ellis said. “He hasn’t exploded offensively this year like he did playing with the U-18 team a year ago, but he’s a more responsible defender than he was back then. He’s defensively flawed, can get too fancy with the puck at the wrong times and isn’t particularly big. But the upside here is still huge, and at this tournament, Hutson will be destructive with the extra space.”