Is Cole Hutson Better Than His Brother? | 2024 Draft Prospect Profile
For the 2024 Draft, TSLH Espoirs offers exclusive content prepared following numerous viewings of prospects. Leading up to the NHL Draft, TSLH will share prospect profiles as well as its final rankings of the top prospects for the 2024 draft.
(Update 2024-12-31)
Cole Hutson was a defenseman expected for the 2024 draft, especially due to the development of his brother Lane Hutson. Even when trying to avoid comparisons with his older brother, Cole often faced the “Lane barometer” in his evaluations. This season, Cole Hutson finished the campaign with 51 points in as many games within the U.S. National Development Program (USNTDP). In comparison, Lane Hutson concluded his draft season with a production of 63 points in 60 games. Thus, in terms of production alone, their contributions within the USNTDP were relatively similar.
In public lists, he is mostly ranked between 25th and 40th. In a large “tier” of players who could be drafted at the end of the first round or in the second round, Cole Hutson’s name could certainly fit anywhere. However, the Central Scouting Bureau has been quite harsh with him, placing him 55th among North American skaters for the 2024 draft. Of course, we remember well Lane Hutson’s profile, who, in his draft year, was mostly ranked outside the first round (except in TSLH Espoirs!). Comparisons are inevitable, that’s for sure. We’re talking about two very mobile defensemen, but also of small stature. Cole Hutson stands at 5’10 » and weighs 159 pounds. We won’t know his official measurements after the NHL Combine since he did not participate in the testing.
Solid U18
At the end of the season, Cole Hutson had quite a tournament at the U18s. He was an excellent playmaker and regularly fed his teammates in the right way. He boasts a record of four goals and nine assists for a total of 13 points in 7 games. Against the elite of his age, we saw the effectiveness of his mobility and game reads. However, when the game tightens up, we can also see that his strengths are limited.
To answer the famous question: is Cole Hutson in his draft year better than Lane Hutson in his draft year? My answer would be no. I find that Cole Hutson has a better shot than Lane had in 2022. The latter really developed this skill even more in the NCAA. In terms of mobility, Lane is much more deceptive and effective, but Cole might be more fluid and explosive. Lane’s game reads were also better. Will Cole progress at the same rate as his brother? It’s possible, but to this day, if we compare the two profiles for their respective drafts, Lane holds the advantage over his brother.
Prospect Profile – 2024 Draft
We were excited to see Cole Hutson in his draft year, especially because of the admiration we had for his brother Lane. Personally, I find that Cole Hutson and his brother share similarities in their play while being different profiles. Cole Hutson is excellent at transporting the puck with his individual skills. He has good hands and puck handling, and he identifies the spaces well to counterattack. However, I find him sometimes too risky in trying to deke multiple players. He seems to look for the most complex play, and often, it ends in a failed attempt. I like how he regularly attacks the center of the ice upon entering the zone.
However, he doesn’t have the strength to drive the puck to the net. Hutson also has a good wrist shot. He’s a good offensive contributor, but his puck transport decision-making isn’t always sound. In the absence of elite qualities in his game, I must label Cole Hutson as a small defenseman who is good offensively, but whose profile could hit a wall in professional hockey. Here’s what TSLH Prospects scouts had to say about Cole Hutson in his draft year. The image below is from the 2024 TSLH Prospect Draft Guide.
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