Cole Hutson Comments on Scary Incident, Injury Update
Photo credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Cole Hutson gave the Washington Capitals a scare, but the World Juniors may see him back Friday.
The Capitals prospect took a puck to the helmet Saturday and left on a stretcher. NHL.com's Mike Morreale says he's likely to dress for Team USA's quarterfinal against Finland on Friday.
Hutson told Morreale he was knocked out cold and couldn't move for a few minutes after the hit. He missed two games, then skated Thursday and ran the first power-play point in practice.
Cole Hutson pushes toward World Juniors return.
If you're a Caps fan, you probably winced reading that, because those minutes of stillness are nightmare fuel.
The 19-year-old left-shot defender was Washington's 2024 second-rounder, 43rd overall. He plays like a fourth forward, and his best shifts start with a calm exit pass.
He won the Tim Taylor Award after a 48-point freshman year at Boston University. This season he has 20 points in 18 games, and USA has two straight golds while trying for three.
For Team USA, Hutson's value is the first pass and his poise walking the blue line. Against Finland's layered forecheck, that keeps their breakouts clean and gets shooters into the slot faster.
He has two assists and sits one point from tying Erik Johnson for U.S. defenseman World Juniors points. One assist would pass Ryan Suter, and that's the kind of edge a tight quarterfinal can swing.
Back in Washington, staff will watch closely, because this is a prospect they expect to run a power play. The next milestone is getting through Friday safely, then letting his season get back to fun.
Previously on Washington Hockey Insider
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 2 | 3 ANSWERS Cole Hutson Comments on Scary Incident, Injury Update Should Team USA lean on Cole Hutson against Finland at the World Juniors? | ||
| Big minutes | 2 | 66.7 % |
| Ease in | 0 | 0 % |
| Sit him | 0 | 0 % |
| Undecided | 1 | 33.3 % |
| List of polls | ||