Ben Hutton wants to crack the Vegas Golden Knights’ defensive six. Names like Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb stand in his way. The defenseman signed a two-year contract extension with the Golden Knights last season, giving the team an extremely friendly deal. However, there is no room for Hutton to be part of such a duo, so he is stuck in a stalemate.
It’s not fun when you dream of playing in the NHL and end up being a reserve player. But that hasn’t stopped Hutton from putting his all on the ice every chance he gets. He still plays hard and continues to pursue his lifelong vision of becoming a hockey star.
That’s why the 2024-25 season offers new prospects for the Ontario native Prescott. He can take the spotlight and offer Vegas a cheaper alternative… That is, if they part ways with Shea Theodore or Brayden McNabb sooner. A starting defenseman making $975,000 in salary over the next two years is a lucrative offer.
So what does the new hockey season have in store for the defenseman? Will Golden Knights fans finally see Hutton as a starting defenseman? This year will be interesting for the former Los Angeles King as his starting stats could increase. Here’s what Golden Knights fans can expect from the migrant worker.
Despite losing Alec Martinez to free agent this summer, the Vegas Golden Knights have a surplus of defensemen on their team. Names like Shea Theodore, Brayden McNabb and Noah Hanifin give the team unwavering depth. With that depth, the team can have a backup player for an injured defenseman. That’s where Ben Hutton comes in, as he steps in when a defenseman is out.
Of course, he could also get more playing time by trading. That depth makes it easier to trade a superstar like, say, Mitch Marner. When two defensemen are in the final year of their respective contracts and have significant salary cap hits, it’s easier to trade. With Theodore having a $5.2 million salary cap hit and McNabb having a $2.85 million cap hit, Kelly McCrimmon has options.
It would also be easy if the Golden Knights wanted to trade both stars, as they have Hutton and Kaeden Korczak in store. If McCrimmon balances the lineup and brings in a wing player, the former King will move up the lineup. That means more presence in a variety of areas, from even strength to balanced special teams.
