elvis15 Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Ben Hutton @bhutt10 Defiantly a season to remember, thanks to our five seniors for putting Maine back on the right track. Once a blackbear always a blackbear! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanuckleHorse Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Congrats to Mr Ben ($luttin) Hutton on his great season hope he continues his rise and 1 day becomes a great NHL D-man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avelanch Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 2 goals, 9 shots and was even on the weekend. season over, but what a season it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thad Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Great article on him with good insight from his D partner and coach. Pretty cool we send scouts there mid season to follow progress and tell him what to work on. This was written feb 14th UMaine's Ben Huttons developed pro skating skills to become NHL prospect The UMaine defenseman struggled as a youth with his skating, but has come a long way on the ice. By Mark Emmert memmert@pressherald.com Staff Writer ORONO There is a piece of family lore that Ben Hutton only recently learned. Apparently, as a beginning hockey player he was struggling with his skating, even when using a chair for assistance. Things came to a head one day when Hutton threw a tantrum while exiting the ice, smashing his stick. I guess after the Christmas break, I came back and something clicked. The hockey gods helped me out and I was one of the better skaters on the ice, Hutton said. I dont remember it. My parents told me this when I was home for Christmas. Its certainly hard to conceive of a time when the Maine sophomore was sluggish on his skates. Huttons 10 goals are more than any other defenseman in the nation. Six have come on the power play. Two have been game-winners. And hes added 12 assists to become one of the most potent scorers at his position in school history. Hell be key to the Black Bears efforts again as they host Merrimack at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Hutton has come a long way from the wobbly toddler in Prescott, Ontario, to 2012 draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks. Even his blue-line partner at Maine, senior Brice OConnor, admits hes sometimes in awe. Hes younger than me but hes still someone I look up to with the things he can do on the ice, OConnor said. He has an NHL future, no question. Its really just how much he wants to put into it, and the skys the limit for him. KNOWS THE SCORE Hutton grew up playing forward, and it shows. He didnt make the switch to defense until age 16, when his junior team, Kemptville of the Central Canada Hockey League, was underperforming. Hutton told his coach that he thought he could be a bigger factor on the blue line, and the coach agreed. I make a good first pass out of the zone. I can help out both offensively and defensively, Hutton said. My hearts a defenseman now. By 2012, Hutton was helping his new CCHL team, Nepean, win a title. He scored 13 points in 18 playoff games. He had committed to Maine already, and wasnt overly hopeful of being selected in the NHL draft after being passed over the first year he was eligible. So when draft day arrived, he grabbed a couple of buddies and headed out on a fishing excursion. Sure enough, after I reeled in a bass, I got a call from Vancouver saying, Hey, listen, we just drafted you, Hutton recalled. And then my phone just started blowing up. My parents were watching. And then when I got back, there was a nice celebration waiting for me. I was already having a good day, because I caught the bass. Its what every kid dreams about, just getting the opportunity to go to an NHL camp. Hutton was the Canucks fifth-round pick. He has since attended two of their prospect camps, gaining confidence in his ability to compete at the pro level while also garnering tips from the Canucks coaching staff about what he needs to improve on at Maine. The team occasionally sends a scout to a Black Bears game for further instruction. Theyll say, Hey, really work on your first three steps, or Work on that first pass out of the zone, Hutton said. After the game youre like, You know what? Now that you think about it, I should have done that better. POWER POINT PRODUCTION Hutton was thrust into a prominent role immediately at Maine, scoring 15 points as a freshman and even seeing time on the power play. He battled a severe case of nerves in his college debut, at home against Quinnipiac. But it was eased on his first shift, when he found himself with the puck in the neutral zone and prepared to dump it in and head back to the bench. Theres a guy coming right at me, and I shoot it in to try to take the hit. I dont know what happened, if he caught an edge or something, but he came into me, he just went flying down, and I heard the crowd, They all went crazy, Hutton said. I was like, All right, this is college hockey. Hutton stands 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, and hes capable of delivering big hits. But he gets much more notoriety for his offense. His coach, Red Gendron, doesnt think that is necessarily fair. Hes got a great stick, and hes got a great feel for the game. Obviously, he can skate, Gendron said. But there have been moments this year, on the penalty kill and other defensive situations, hes been incredible. Basically, most nights he and Brice OConnor play against the other teams best players. Hutton and OConnor were paired briefly at the beginning of last season, before the former wound up with senior Mike Cornell. This year, he and OConnor have been practically joined at the hip from the outset of camp. OConnor, the team captain, is constantly described as reliable. He is more of a traditional stay-at-home defenseman, although his offensive skills may be just as overlooked as Huttons defense. But it is OConnors steady play that has allowed Hutton some freedom to roam, to join rushes with a clear conscience. Hutts is more creative and can pull some of those moves that I couldnt pull off. But its all about reading each other. When you can do that, thats when defensemen can really elevate their game, OConnor said. Hes impressive, though. Some stuff, like in the defensive zone, hes coming around the net and picking the puck out of the scrum and hell do a spinorama between the legs and make a soft, easy pass right up to the wing. I always think if I was in that situation, I would have just went hard off the glass. But hes got the poise and that confidence to stay calm, stay composed and sort of work his way out of a situation, make the smart play. Hutton has been working on getting stronger especially in the lower body. He can feel the difference when hes battling for the puck in the corners of the rink. But he still wants to be a more explosive skater, to accelerate faster. Gendron said he would like to see Hutton add some velocity to his slapshot, and to get it off quicker. Gendron has no doubt that Hutton will put in the work. All hockey players have superstitions. Hutton has two. He kisses the inside of his jersey as hes putting it on, and he and fellow sophomore Devin Shore have a ritualistic handshake they perform just before they step onto the ice. Its working out for Hutton and the Black Bears this season. They stand 13-10-3, tied for fourth in Hockey East with six games remaining. They finally earned a road victory last weekend at Notre Dame, just in time for a key series at Northeastern next weekend. Hutton predicted the breakthrough against the Fighting Irish, and said he is happy to prove people wrong. Like those who still doubt his skills as a defender. If people think that way, Im going to surprise them when they come down on me and well have the puck going the other way, Hutton said. I dont mind that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mangosteens Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 (edited) Does he sign and forego the rest of his NCAA career? A 21 yr old, offensive minded d-man in the system seems like a fit with the reload. Edited March 17, 2014 by mangosteens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ossi Vaananen Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Good article, but I think the tweet at the top of the page is more indicative of him staying in college than turning pro. I really think he should go pro as we don't have much in the way of defensemen call ups, really just Corrado. It's also a fresh young squad down in Utica to work and develop with. I look forward to his prospects camp to see where he's at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avelanch Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 there's a good possibility that he might leave Maine if we dealt a good chunk f our d-men away and go into full rebuild. as it stand right now, i doubt it, seeing as there's no room for him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avelanch Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 there's a good possibility that he might leave Maine if we dealt a good chunk f our d-men away and go into full rebuild. as it stand right now, i doubt it, seeing as there's no room for him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tas Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 there's no rush. let him get his degree. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 there's no rush. let him get his degree.Agreed, let him develop and be a better human as well as a better hockey player.Added we aren't trading anyone on the blue line it seems so the logjam continues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Amish Rake Fighter Posted March 18, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted March 18, 2014 This thread should be called "The Curious Case of Benjamin Hutton" 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devoted Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 Un ano mas. He can focus on school work and rounding out his full game, then turn pro. Plenty of potential. Love the 5th round Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel Heyman Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 This thread should be called "The Curious Case of Benjamin Hutton" Seconded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyLow_ Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 AHL would be the logical next move, he's already 21. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred65 Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 IMO here's the problem for Hutton. He is playing in a league that only plays 32 games a season. It's tough to develop game type experience when you're not playing. It's why Tanev left the NCAA. He needs more playing time. It would be nice if they could accelerate his development by getting him into a pro type setting with lotds of games and travel, turning up every night. Is he playig against the best competition ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ossi Vaananen Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 It's the right time to turn pro. You can bet that the contract Hutton theoretically passes on will likely go to one of the other sought after College D. It's a good year to acquire a college D FA, with Folin, Oksanen, Yevenko, Osterle, and Carey all available. Judging by our lack NHL ready D in Utica, it could be worthwhile for Hutton to go pro. Otherwise, it's a missed opportunity. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derp... Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 He can still finish his education, Shaq did it, why can't Hutton? Best of both worlds would be turning pro, but continuing his education via online classes etc over the next few years. Stoked to see him at the next level whenever he gets there. Also if for some reason kids aren't allowed to continue there education once they turn pro and I don't know my bad, and if true that's dumb lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyLow_ Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 IMO here's the problem for Hutton. He is playing in a league that only plays 32 games a season. It's tough to develop game type experience when you're not playing. It's why Tanev left the NCAA. He needs more playing time. It would be nice if they could accelerate his development by getting him into a pro type setting with lotds of games and travel, turning up every night. Is he playig against the best competition ? Not to mention he's already dominated that league. It's tough to get better when you're better than the competition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avelanch Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 lots of players finish their degrees via mail/virtual classes/summer classes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleShield Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 Depends on how we approach next year. If we plan on playing like we are now, and effectively going after McDavid, leave him in the NCAA. Maybe AHL at this time of year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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