Cole Hutson
Defense · WSH · NHL

Cole Hutson

Age
20
Height
6'0"
Weight
180 lb
Shoots
L
Drafted
2024, round 2, 43rd overall
Born
USA
2026-27
NHL · Washington Capitals
Games
7
Goals
1
Assists
3
Points
4
Prospect score · 2026-27
Blue chip

6th of 1,160 prospects in the NHLnew

1st in the WSH system · 1st among its defensemen

+0.7WAR a season if he sticks
Outlook
NHL odds99%Becomes a full-time NHL player — 200 games by 26
Impact odds63%Better than the typical NHL regular among defensemen
Arrival2026-27The season his comps who made it typically became regulars
WAR a season if he sticks+0.3+0.7+2.0Low, middle and high outcomes among his comparables who became regulars

Of the 10 players most like him at the same point in their development, 9 became full-time NHL players.

Development

His scoring, converted to an NHL equivalent, against every player his age and position that season. Zero is the average player his age; the band is where his comparables were at each age.

-10+1+2+3+416171819Age2022-23, age 16, 93 GP: +2.75 vs. his age group (0.17 NHL-equivalent points per game)2023-24, age 17, 70 GP: +1.42 vs. his age group (0.15 NHL-equivalent points per game)2024-25, age 18, 39 GP: +3.09 vs. his age group (0.32 NHL-equivalent points per game)2025-26, age 19, 49 GP: +2.82 vs. his age group (0.37 NHL-equivalent points per game)
HimMiddle half of his comps at that ageAverage player his age
Comparables

Past prospects at the same position and the same stage after their draft, matched on draft slot, age, size and league-adjusted production. What they became is already known. The outcome is judged at 26: 200 NHL games by then makes a regular.

#PlayerMatchNHL GP by 26Career NHL GPOutcomeWAR a season
1Erik Karlsson2008 · #15 · at 2027%5561166Regular+1.93
2Michael Del Zotto2008 · #20 · at 2026%484736Regular+0.44
3Roman Josi2008 · #38 · at 2023%4061037Regular+1.70
4Justin Faulk2010 · #37 · at 2023%5591065Regular+1.11
5John Carlson2008 · #27 · at 2022%5261166Regular+0.98
6Erik Brannstrom2017 · #15 · at 2021%294294Regular+0.21
7David Rundblad2009 · #17 · at 2021%113113Did not stick—
8Jakob Chychrun2016 · #16 · at 2021%541628Regular+0.46
9Adam Fox2016 · #66 · at 2021%431495Regular+2.02
10Dmitry Kulikov2009 · #14 · at 2021%5691045Regular+0.31
Season by season
SeasonGPGAPtsPIM
2026-27NHL · Washington Capitals71346
2025-26WJC-20 · USA U2031340
2025-26NHL · Washington Capitals1437108
2025-26NCAA · Boston Univ.3510223226
2024-25WJC-20 · USA U20738112
2024-25NCAA · Boston Univ.3914344864
2023-24WJC-18 · USA U18749136
2023-24USHL · USNTDP Juniors19391214
2023-24NTDP · U.S. National U18 Team5115365152
2022-23WJC-18 · USA U187111128
2022-23WHC-17 · USA U1770994
2022-23USHL · USNTDP Juniors324212552
2022-23NTDP · U.S. National U17 Team6110586872
2021-22USA-S15 · Team Royal40110
2021-22AYHL 16U · North Jersey Avalanche 16U AAA2420426238
2020-21WSI U15 · Draftday Selects U1590330
2020-21AYHL 14U · North Jersey Avalanche 14U AAA16821294
2019-20AYHL 14U · North Jersey Avalanche 14U AAA2545916
2018-19QC Int PW · Detroit Honeybaked22020
2017-18WSI U12 · Pro Hockey Selects U1283360
2015-16Brick Invitational · Chicago Jr. Blackhawks60332
2014-15Brick Invitational · Chicago Jr. Blackhawks61450

The prospect score is a percentile of his expected outcome among every prospect in the league: the chance he becomes a regular, times how good his comparables who did became against others at their position. A player who never sticks counts as zero, which is why a long shot with a high ceiling can rank below a safe bet. All Sabres prospects · How the rankings work