Bazinga! Edmonton Oilers bring in hottest rookie in minor pro hockey
This in from the Edmonton Oilers, news they’ve done the right thing and called up Quinn Hutson, the hottest rookie in Edmonton’s system and in all of the American Hockey League.
As Bakersfield Conbors broadcaster Ryan Holt reports, Hutson is:
• Leading The AHL
rookies in scoring
• 4th among all AHL skaters in scoring
• 3rd in AHL with 16 goals
• 25 points (14g-11a) in his last 14 games
Said Bob Stauffer of Oilers Now: “Quinn Hutson has earned the recall. The Edmonton Oilers could use a boost in the secondary scoring department.”
My take
1. This is the right move. Why? Max Jones was previously called up due to the many injuries to Oilers forwards, but Jones is a grinder, not a scorer.
Edmonton is in desperate need of offensive play when Connor McDavid and/or Leon Draisaitl aren’t on the ice.
With both of them or one of them on the ice at even strength (950 total minutes), the Oilers have scored 60 goals and given up just 48.
Without either of them on the ice (781 total minutes), the Oilers have scored 21 goals and given up 46, reports Natural Stat Trick.
That is atrocious play without their two star players on the ice. If it keeps up the Oilers will struggle to make the playoffs, let alone compete for the Stanley Cup.
2. If the Oiler can somehow conjure up more third line scoring, this team can go far. That’s likely going to mean checkers like Adam Henrique and Mattias Janmark on the fourth line, not the third line as they are now. Those two can still play solid two-way hockey, but they’re not any kind of scorers now at even strength. But Hutson? It’s possible he might just get it done.
3. Hutson is no kid. He’s 23. He played three years of college hockey before going pro last year at age 23. He’ll be 24 on Janaury 1. It’s excellent that he’s dominating the AHL in his first year, but if he’s ever going to make it in the NHL at his age, an older first-year prospect, that’s exactly what the Oilers needed to see.
4. We saw Hutson in preseason and in two pro games last year, where he made little impact. But he’s an extremely smart player with the puck. He can make plays. He’s got good-to-great hands shooting and passing. If he can hold his own on defence — and he’s a smart guy so I don’t see why he can’t do so — he can stick with the Oilers now, never see the AHL again.
5. Oilers GM Stan Bowman deserves much credit for identifying and signing or acquiring a raft of excellent older prospects like Hutson, 22-year-old Viljami Marjala, 23 points in 24 AHL games, Atro Leppanen, 26, 19 points in 24 AHL games, Ike Howard, 21, 13 points in 11 AHL games, and Josh Samanski, 23, 17 points in 24 games, while playing a tough, defensively sound game.
Edmonton was desperate for such an infusion of talent, given poor drafting in recent years from Ken Holland’s crew, the loss of Dylan Holloway to an offer sheet, and Edmonton also trading away so many picks and prospects.
Cult of Hockey contributor Ira Cooper noted about the Hutson calll-up: “All of Hutson, Jarventie, Howard and Samanski have earned a call up. (Samanski not until after he’s back from Olympics and Howard after continues to bust his ass in what the org asked him to). Hutson is turning 24 and time is now. Issue is if Knob just swaps him in for Jones.”
6. On the downside for Bowman, two of his big signings this summer, Andrew Mangiapane and Trent Frederic have played their way down to the fourth line this year, an occurrence only partially redeemed by the signing of Jack Roslovic and trade for Vasily Podkolzin, two players who now appear to be locks to be in the Top Six for the Oilers this year. But who else will be there?
7. McDavid, Drasaitl, Roslovic (when he gets healthy), Podkolzin and Zach Hyman are all Top 6 locks. So is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, but Edmonton may go with him as third line centre if Matt Savoie can stick with Draisaitl and Podkolzin, which is still in doubt.
Savoie isn’t yet scoring enough to ensure he stays there. But if Savoie sticks with Drai and Podz, RNH could centre a third solid two-way line and Hutson may well fit in well on his wing. They’d likely need to be paired with a bigger, more rugged player, maybe Trent Frederic if he ever gets his gamer together. Or maybe a smaller line of RNH, Andrew Mangiapane and Hutson could find a way to make it work. Or even Howard, RNH, Hutson.
In any case, this is Hutson’s big chance, he’s just what Edmonton needs, and if he gets third line minutes, I suspect he’s going to seize the day.
8. Of course, Edmonton could also now trade for another solid third line player, a rugged winger.
If everyone is healthy, here’s what Edmonton’s lines might be come playoff time:
Roslovic McDavid Hyman
(New Winger) Draisail Podkolzin
Hutson RNH Savoie
Janmark Henrique Mangiapane
Frederic Lazar Kapanen
Tomasek Philp Clattenberg
At the Cult of Hockey
STAPLES: Intriguing NHL goalie up for grabs. Will Edmonton Oilers bite on him?
STAPLES: Player Grades: Oilers fail despite Pickard’s heroic goaltending, lose 4-1 to Montreal
LEAVINS: Is Tristan Jarry ‘the answer’ for Edmonton Oilers: 9 Things
More to come…
