Four teams fighting to sign coveted UFA defenseman

It’s very surprising that unrestricted free agent defenseman Ben Hutton remains unsigned. But it might not stay that way for very long… 

According to Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period, four teams are in the mix to land the blue liner. The Los Angeles Kings remain interested in signing the free agent, however, the Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild and New York Rangers. 

Some fans in Vancouver were hoping Hutton would return to the Canucks, he was a feel-good story for the team. He put up five goals and 20 points while averaging the second-most ice time among all Canucks, trailing only veteran Alex Edler.

However, the Canucks signed Jordie Benn and Tyler Myers and have very little cash left to re-sign RFAs Nikolay Goldobin and Brock Boeser. Hutton is out. 

Defensemen are always in demand, and given his age and production, Hutton remains one of the most coveted blue liners out there and should find work very shortly.