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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.