Ben Hutton signs a PTO contract

The New York Islanders have been dealing with some injury headaches on the blue line lately, and it looks like they're making a move to add some depth. Ryan Pulock was recently ruled out for two to four weeks with an upper-body injury, and the team has already placed a couple of other players on injured reserve. So when the Isles announced a new signing on Monday, it wasn't exactly a shock that they were looking for reinforcements on defense.

A Familiar Face With a Stanley Cup Ring

The Islanders revealed that veteran left-shot defenseman Ben Hutton has agreed to a professional tryout contract with the club. Hutton, now 33 years old, is no stranger to bouncing around the league. The Brockville, Ontario native has suited up for the Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and most recently the Vegas Golden Knights over parts of 11 NHL seasons. New York would mark his sixth organization if he earns a spot on the roster.

Hutton's most recent stint was a productive one in Vegas, where he spent five seasons from 2021 to 2026. Last year, he put up 15 points in 55 games, including six goals, which was actually a career high for the blueliner. He also chipped in an assist across seven playoff games as the Golden Knights made a run all the way to the 2026 Stanley Cup Final. And of course, Hutton was part of the Vegas squad that hoisted the Cup back in 2023, so he brings championship experience to an Islanders group that could use some of that veteran presence.

Across his entire career, Hutton has accumulated 139 points on 30 goals and 109 assists in 575 regular season games. Originally a fifth-round pick by Vancouver back in 2012 at 147th overall, he's carved out a solid career for a guy who wasn't exactly a high draft selection.

More Than Just an NHL Resume

Before turning pro, Hutton had a strong college career at the University of Maine, where he played three seasons from 2012 to 2015. He tallied 65 points in 108 games with the Black Bears and earned a spot on the NCAA East Second All-American Team during the 2013-14 season after posting an impressive 29 points, including 15 goals, in just 35 games. On the international stage, he represented Canada at the 2016 IIHF World Championship and came home with a gold medal, adding an assist in five tournament games.

It remains to be seen whether Hutton can earn a full contract with the Islanders, but the timing of this PTO makes a lot of sense given the team's current injury situation. He's a steady, experienced defenseman who knows what it takes to compete at the highest level. For an Islanders team that could use some stability on the back end right now, Hutton might be exactly the kind of low-risk addition that pays off down the road.