Vancouver Canucks: Time to make a decision on Ben Hutton
By Alex Hoegler
Vancouver Canucks defenceman Ben Hutton has struggled his season and has frequently been a healthy scratch. Instead of dragging this saga on, the Canucks need to decide if Hutton should stay or go.
Over the next 72 hours, Vancouver Canucks fans will be anxiously awaiting to see if general manager Jim Benning pulls off any more trades. Erik Gudbranson was given a three-year extension, and Alexander Edler hasn’t shown any signs that he’ll waive his no-trade clause.
That leaves veteran winger Thomas Vanek as the team’s only somewhat possible trade candidate, but it may be time for Benning to start shopping around defenceman Ben Hutton. The 24-year-old has struggled under head coach Travis Green, and has been a healthy scratch 10 times this season.
TSN’s Farhan Lalji dropped this interesting note on Thursday — which is bound to stir up Hutton trade rumours:
Spoke to Ben Hutton, obviously frustrated at the possibility of an 11th health scratch, asked about the prospects of a trade & a fresh start elsewhere, "Ya maybe... I just want to play." #Canucks
— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) February 22, 2018
In Nov. 2016, Hutton signed a two-year extension worth $5.6 million, but things have gone downhill since he put the paper to the pen. Hutton was supposed to be an offensive-minded blueliner. Instead, he has zero goals and a mere six assists on the season.
More from The Canuck Way
- Which team won the Bo Horvat trade?
- What to expect from newcomers Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Räty
- Back to the future: How the skate uniforms became a regular Canucks’ feature night
- Canucks kick off 2023 with disappointing 6-2 loss to Islanders
- 2nd period penalty trouble sinks Canucks in 4-2 loss against Winnipeg
Hutton also has a mediocre 48.8 Corsi For percentage thus far in 2017-17, further indicating his porous all-around play.
But he turns 25 in April, is cheap and can move the puck well up ice. The potential is there, but should he remain a Canuck? Benning and Green need to sit down and have a talk.
You can’t keep scratching a guy who’s young and brings so much upside.
Hutton should either be playing consistent top-four minutes or shouldn’t be on the Canucks, period. You can’t say Gudbranson or Alex Biega have been better than Hutton this season. Offensively and defensively, they’re probably inferior.
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reported back in January that Vancouver is “listening to offers” on Hutton. That was nearly two months ago, which means that the Canucks have been pondering the idea of trading him for a while now.
Whatever the Canucks plan to do with Hutton, keeping him benched isn’t helping. Want to trade him? Fine, but you have to showcase the guy to other teams. He can’t show his value if he’s not playing.
Want to keep him? Fine. But making him a frequent healthy scratch isn’t the proper way of helping Hutton develop his game. Either play the kid and hope he’ll continue to mature, or trade him. Hutton’s frustration and desire to play is justified.
Next: Canucks should trade Edler, but probably won't
It’s up to Benning and the Canucks to let Hutton play, and the solutions aren’t hard: Either play him and make him part of the rebuild, or trade Hutton. Let’s not add more drama to a team that’s struggling to find its identity. Again.
*Stats courtesy of Hockey Reference*