‘He makes it look so easy’: Cole Hutson’s record-breaking junior career has him set for the 2024 NHL Draft

Credit: Cole Hutson (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)

Don’t expect a ton of emotion from Cole Hutson – not when he scores, not when he wins, not even when he beats out some of the NHL’s top defensemen to break a long-standing record.

That’s the Hutson boys in a nutshell. Lane was the same way, even when he was chasing gold with the United States at the World Junior Championship. It’s all hockey, all the time. They’re laser-focused – team-first by all accounts.

So when Hutson became the all-time leading scorer among defensemen for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program at the U-18 World Championship last month, he was coy as usual.

“I didn’t come here to break records.”

It’s all business for Cole. And that’s fine – the end result speaks for itself.

“He looks like he’s moody all the time,” fellow 2024 prospect Cole Eiserman said with a smile. “But he’s a happy kid, he makes jokes… he’s just a Hutson.”

But one thing that makes him smile is talking about watching Lane make his NHL debut with the Montreal Canadiens earlier this spring. Cole managed to catch the game in Detroit with his family before jetting off to Helsinki for the U-18s.

“It was crazy, it was kind of surreal,” Hutson said. “I still can’t believe that he played in the NHL, to be honest. It was a great moment for my family.”

It’s hard not to watch the two and not see the similarities. Both were high-scoring defenders with the USNTDP. Both loved to control the power play, and both outplayed their smaller frames. Cole is bigger than Lane was at the same age – 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, so about two inches taller. He’s a bit physically stronger, too, although you won’t mistake either of them for being punishing blueliners.

Instead, Cole likes to beat opponents with his skating and pure skill. Hutson was voted best defenseman at the U-18s after his 13-point run, the second consecutive year in which he led all defenders in scoring. He had multiple points in five of his seven games, including a massive three-point effort against Finland to help the Americans win Group A. Hutson did it all while dealing with an undisclosed injury, too.

“He just never stops,” said USNTDP coach Nick Fohr. “He’s a determined young man with a lot of talent, a lot of ability. My favorite thing about him is that he makes the guys on the ice better, and that’s a true sign of a really good hockey player.”

Hutson’s defense partner, E.J. Emery, agrees.

“He’s such a skilled player, he’s a great offensive player and I’m just there to make sure he feels comfortable going up the play and doing his job,” Emery said. “He makes my job easier by getting me the puck, getting me open and getting me in places where I’m able to make plays.”

Hutson’s ability to step up and make plays happen with the puck is what allowed him to play with the U-18 team a year early. Few defenders from the 2024 NHL Draft class are as good with the puck as Hutson, which is impressive in a class that includes Zayne Parekh, Henry Mews and Artyom Levshunov.

“He just finds a way to make things happen,” top 2025 NHL Draft prospect James Hagens said. “It’s fun to see some of the stuff he does. He’ll beat you one way and or another. He’s so shifty.”

But with a smaller frame and average defending compared to others from this draft class, scouts are mixed. Hutson’s shot is also below average, but it has improved. He still gets a ton of assists, but he’ll need to figure out to put more mustard behind his release if he’s going to be as effective offensively in the NHL. Many scouts think he has first-round talent but will end up going in the second round until he can clean a few things up.

The same issues persisted with Lane in 2022, but the Canadiens were willing to bet on upside. Whoever selects Cole will be in the same spot.

“He makes it look so easy,” an NHL scout said. “The way he skates, carries the puck, finds his teammates. He’s in the upper echelon of this class.”

Some scouts don’t think he has the pure offensive talent his brother does, but he’s bigger, stronger and a better skater at this point in his development. He’s one of the most competitive defensemen you’ll find in this draft, and he’s getting better at figuring out the physical aspect of the game. There’s also no denying the USNTDP was better with him on the ice than not.

But, again, the same concerns attributed to Lane exist. How will Cole’s game translate to the NHL? It’s one thing to dominate against teenagers; it’s another to do it against stronger, older competition. You won’t find many players with Hutson’s makeup in the NHL, which is also what makes the two brothers so fascinating – maybe they’ll be the ones to usher in a new breed.

Hutson is set to carry on the family legacy by heading to Boston University next year, likely filling the hole left by his brother’s departure. He’ll still get to pass to Eiserman on a consistent basis, something the touted goal-scorer is thrilled about.

“You watch him out there, and he’s a magician with the puck,” Eiserman said. “He’s going to try to look for you out there. He’s pretty special.”

Now we’ll see which NHL team thinks the same.

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‘He makes it look so easy’: Cole Hutson’s record-breaking junior career has him set for the 2024 NHL Draft

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