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Islanders add Ben Hutton on tryout contract for defensive depth
The Islanders signed defenceman Ben Hutton to a one-year deal on Thursday, after first bringing him in on a professional tryout contract. He could provide depth on the left side of the third defensive pair, particularly after Ryan Pulock’s injury, though coach Pete DeBoer said Hutton needed time to get up to speed before being considered for a game.
The Islanders’ penalty kill had an 86 per cent success rate entering Thursday, ranking among the league’s top five despite injuries to Pulock and Alexander Romanov and Matthew Schaefer’s reduced role. Semyon Varlamov started against Carolina, continuing a recent even split with Ilya Sorokin, while Mathew Barzal, Pulock and Matias Maccelli took part in an optional skate in red non-contact jerseys.
In short
- Hutton signed a one-year deal after joining the Islanders on a tryout.
- He may help fill defensive depth following Pulock’s injury.
- New York entered Thursday with an 86 per cent penalty-kill rate.
Explained simply
The New York Islanders are a team in the National Hockey League, where each side uses a group of defencemen to protect its goal and help start attacks. Ben Hutton is a left-sided defenceman who has played for several NHL teams; a tryout contract gives a player a chance to show a club he can earn a regular deal.
Teams need enough fit defencemen to cover injuries and changes in the line-up. Ryan Pulock and Alexander Romanov are among the Islanders’ established defenders, so Hutton’s possible role is linked to the cover available on the left side. The team’s penalty kill, which defends when it has fewer players on the ice because of a penalty, is another important part of its defensive play.