Cole Hutson showed a lot of promise during his 14-game stint with the Washington Capitals at the end of the 2025-26 season. The 19-year-old rookie defenseman, who had just finished up his sophomore season at Boston University, posted 10 points (3g, 7a) in his limited run in DC, and NHL EDGE tracking statistics suggested he’s already one of the fastest players in the league.
While Hutson had vast success and teased what could be a superstar future, he still had moments where he felt very much like a teenager, fresh out of the NCAA.
“One opportunity comes to mind,” Hutson said during his Breakdown Day interview at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. “Charlie Coyle reverse hit me, and that was kind of like my ‘Welcome to the league’ moment. How big, and, like, I don’t even think he saw me. I think he just shrugged me off, and it felt like a train hit me.
“Obviously, the guys are a lot bigger (than in college), but I love that part of the game. I love being physical. And regardless, if he’s going to hit me, I’m going to try and give it back to him later in the game.”
Despite being only 175 pounds, Hutson was not shy to throw his body around or get physical during his time in the NHL. One of his biggest hits was a chokeslam-esque takedown of Team USA hero Jack Hughes during his second pro game against New Jersey.
Regardless, one of Hutson’s main goals this summer will be to continue growing into and filling out his body so he can handle a full 84-game NHL season next fall. He’ll spend the offseason training with brothers Lane (a defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens), Quinn (a winger currently in the Edmonton Oilers organization), and Lars (a 17-year old defenseman in the USHL).
“I think just getting bigger, stronger, faster,” Hutson said. “Kind of the usual things I try to do every summer as a smaller guy. It’s something that I’m going to need to work on if I want to stay at this level.”
Hutson also learned during his month in the league that, in his words, he needed to respect the game.
“I think players are so good you can’t anticipate what they’re doing because they’ll outsmart you, just like you’re thinking outsmarting them,” he explained. “It happens so fast, and (I learned) just how quick the game goes by.”
When asked how he’d sum up his time in Washington, Hutson, who will likely be rooming with Ryan Leonard next season, had nothing but positive things to say.
“It was a lot of fun,” Hutson said. “Just getting to know everyone in the locker room and, yeah, learn[ing] so much so fast about the game and how hard it really is to play at this level consistently. So just a head start for next year. Hopefully I’m ready to stay in the league.”
