Prospect Info: Caps Prospects General Discussion Thread - 2024-25

[CapitalsCupReality]

I'm in the minority. I do NOT think Hutson is ready now. I think he needs a year of AHL. Evidence...none of the highlights you guys are posting show any defense. Hope I'm wrong.

“Ready now” means he plays next year at the earliest IMO. I think it’s a tough ask of the kid.

Skill is there, the frame isn’t.

 

[Jags]

Caps are going to have a tough decision here shortly. Hutson could be ready now. Maybe another year. But Sandin or Fever is going to have to go if we get him in the mix. This assuming we resign Chychrun which i believe we will do.

Yeah, I think it's another year, and it won't be a tough decision. Being able to move a really good D for pure value and spend that ELC savings elsewhere is a luxury. Looking forward to it.

Same with all these prospects that are projecting so well right now. To have this much promise ripening right as the Ovi era is waning is a huge boon for us. That we were somehow able to simultaneously shore up Ovi's last 2 years (atm) into a true contender AND stock the farm so well... I really don't want to hear anyone bitching about management anytime soon.

 

[RedRocking]

“Ready now” means he plays next year at the earliest IMO. I think it’s a tough ask of the kid.

Skill is there, the frame isn’t.

Lane played 2 years at BU. See no reason why Cole wouldn’t want to do the same. And agree, he needs that time to grow physically. The Habs did sign Lane at the end of last season and he has obviously stayed with the big club. But the Habs stink and don’t care whether he can defend, lol.

The way the Caps operate, could see Cole spending a year in Hershey, which would put him in DC for the 2027-28 season (if my brain is mathing right).

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Caps are going to have a tough decision here shortly. Hutson could be ready now. Maybe another year. But Sandin or Fever is going to have to go if we get him in the mix. This assuming we resign Chychrun which i believe we will do.

It’s TVR or Carly he would be replacing

 

[Random schmoe]

I'm in the minority. I do NOT think Hutson is ready now. I think he needs a year of AHL. Evidence...none of the highlights you guys are posting show any defense. Hope I'm wrong.

To be fair, good defense rarely shows up in game highlights. (In fact, a lot of NCAA hockey highlights include examples of BAD defense.)

I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with the premise, I don't know how good his D is. I do think it's fair to suggest he needs to put on some mass, and I'm not sure what league is best for him to do that while continuing to develop as a player. I suspect NCAA is the answer. But if he demanded 'sign or trade', I'd sign him with almost no reservation, give him a game, and try to play him in Hershey to start 2025-26.

 

[DWGie26]

It’s TVR or Carly he would be replacing

Well those are both righties. Cole is a leftie.

I think we keep our top six in place next year for OVs last year although I suspect our 8D is Iorio and not McIlrath. Maybe we resign Mac to two way deal and back to Hershey.

And agree Cole for BU another year. It’s when OV and crew moves on that we need to decide. I think we move on from TVR and resign JC74.

 

[Holtbyisms]

“Ready now” means he plays next year at the earliest IMO. I think it’s a tough ask of the kid.

Skill is there, the frame isn’t.

Cole Hutson is 5'11" 171. His brother is 5'9 162. Cale Makar is 5'11" 185 and Quinn Hughes is 5'10" 175. I'm not worried about his frame in today's NHL. He should play another year though, no reason to rush it.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Cole Hutson is 5'11" 171. His brother is 5'9 162. Cale Makar is 5'11" 185 and Quinn Hughes is 5'10" 175. I'm not worried about his frame in today's NHL. He should play another year though, no reason to rush it.

Considering how injured the Hughes boys are…point made for me thanks.

 

[Coldnwindy]

Seems like the biggest thing Cole needs to work on is his discipline. BU fans have been saying that both him and his D partner take a ton of stupid penalties. Both have way more PIM than the rest of the team. Give him another year in college to iron that out.

 

[Silky mitts]

Cole Hutson is 5'11" 171. His brother is 5'9 162. Cale Makar is 5'11" 185 and Quinn Hughes is 5'10" 175. I'm not worried about his frame in today's NHL. He should play another year though, no reason to rush it.

Seems like the biggest thing Cole needs to work on is his discipline. BU fans have been saying that both him and his D partner take a ton of stupid penalties. Both have way more PIM than the rest of the team. Give him another year in college to iron that out.

Quinn Hughes Brendan Witt hybrid

 

[Holtbyisms]

Considering how injured the Hughes boys are…point made for me thanks.

Not really but cool story as usual.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Not really but cool story as usual.

no substance response when challenged….you do you.

 

[Holtbyisms]

no substance response when challenged….you do you.

Back onto the ignore list, see ya in a year.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Back onto the ignore list, see ya in a year.

Oh stop at both of you @CapitalsCupReality.

No need to snipe at each other. And ignore lists? We all know my feelings on those.

Kinda “Charmin”

 

[DWGie26]

boys gonna be boys!

Bottom line… Hutson could still use a little more development. body. Discipline on penalties (based on what was said above). Overall play.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Oh stop at both of you @CapitalsCupReality.

No need to snipe at each other. And ignore lists? We all know my feelings on those.

Kinda “Charmin”

He’s a delicate flower, all good.

 

[um]

Hutson should go the Carlson route and join the Hershey Bears next season.

Carlson got his AHL experience, world juniors game winning goal, NHL experience, great NHL playoffs and to top it off he won the Calder Cup.

I’d say it was a good developmental year for Carlson.

 

[wickedwitch]

Hutson should go the Carlson route and join the Hershey Bears next season.

Carlson got his AHL experience, world juniors game winning goal, NHL experience, great NHL playoffs and to top it off he won the Calder Cup.

I’d say it was a good developmental year for Carlson.

I'm not opposed to this. It's probably my first choice for him.

However, Hutson, moreso than Carlson circa 2010, could use the lighter college schedule to help put on a little more muscle. So going back to college will also be a good choice.

 

[Vilica]

Schedule for the week:

Hershey - Wed 3/12, Sat 3/15, Sun 3/16
South Carolina - Wed 3/12, Fri 3/14, Sat 3/15, Sun 3/16

CHL:
Andrew Cristall Spokane - Wed 3/12, Sat 3/15, Sun 3/16

Terik Parascak Prince George - Fri 3/14, Sat 3/15

Patrick Thomas Brantford - Thu 3/13, Fri 3/14

Ilya Protas Windsor - Tue 3/11, Thu 3/13, Sat 3/15, Sun 3/16 [vs London]

Cam Allen London - Tue 3/11, Wed 3/12, Fri 3/14, Sun 3/16 [vs Windsor] - Eligible to return 3/16

Eriks Mateiko Rimouski - Wed 3/12, Sat 3/15, Sun 3/16

College:
Ryan Leonard BC - Sat 3/15 [Hockey East Tournament]

Ryan Chesley Minn - No Games

Cole Hutson BU - Sat 3/15 [Hockey East Tournament]

NCAA Tournament bracket revealed 3/23, Minnesota's done since they lost in their conference tournament, but they're an at-large bid, BC/BU have semifinals/finals of Hockey East 3/20 and 3/21 should they win their QF on 3/15.

 

[usiel]

To be fair, good defense rarely shows up in game highlights. (In fact, a lot of NCAA hockey highlights include examples of BAD defense.)

I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with the premise, I don't know how good his D is. I do think it's fair to suggest he needs to put on some mass, and I'm not sure what league is best for him to do that while continuing to develop as a player. I suspect NCAA is the answer. But if he demanded 'sign or trade', I'd sign him with almost no reservation, give him a game, and try to play him in Hershey to start 2025-26.

His defense is good and like last year he would often be the one on his line being the most defensive responsible being the third forward back. D1 defenses also had older and more physically mature players that would really punish Leonard. Again I watched about 85% of the games this season and last so I've watched a lot. There were more times pressuring the other team in transition where he was F1 and sometimes should crack back but he's go and try and get a turnover that wouldn't fly at the NHL structure level. Big picture having a kid come in from the D1 level is an easier transition compared to major junior, imho.

 

[Random schmoe]

His defense is good and like last year he would often be the one on his line being the most defensive responsible being the third forward back. D1 defenses also had older and more physically mature players that would really punish Leonard. Again I watched about 85% of the games this season and last so I've watched a lot. There were more times pressuring the other team in transition where he was F1 and sometimes should crack back but he's go and try and get a turnover that wouldn't fly at the NHL structure level. Big picture having a kid come in from the D1 level is an easier transition compared to major junior, imho.

My post was regarding Hutson. But I appreciate the info on Leonard too!

 

[Kuz]

Considering how injured the Hughes boys are…point made for me thanks.

Quinn havent had a lot of injuries.
19/20 - Played 68/69
20/21 - Played 56/56
21/22 - Played 76/82
22/23 - Played 78/82
23/24 - Played 82/82

First real injury this year. Hughes is tied for 24th most games by defencemen at 410 games since he entered the league in 19/20 so he have not missed a lot of time.

To say Cole Hutson might be injury prone because another 5.11 player is injury prone doesnt give a lot of interesting info. Both larger and smaller players get injuries some might be more injury prone, but thats not usually because of their height, but genetics and training and how easy a muscle for example might tear. Also its to some degree up to the coaches. If players are overworked with to much ice time and muscles are starting to get tired you have a bigger chance to hurt them.

At some degree smaller players might be a little more injury prone by a hit as they take it harder by a big guy like Wilson for example coming full force. A guy like Ovi might withstand it well if hes in balance while a smaller player will be tossed away even in balance as hes simply not big enough to withstand a hit at full speed from a player with a lot more mass.

 

[Kazer]

Cole is definitely talented enough to play in the NHL right now, but I believe that he would benefit strongly from another year of development.

While I would not mind if he goes back to College, I would prefer that he goes the AHL route. Leonard is physically ready for the NHL and probably has been since he was 18 with his size, strength, and skating ability. Given that, I'm not concerned about Leonard's ability to transition directly from college to the NHL. For Cole, given his size, it would be valuable for him to learn from the veterans how to train and take care of his body before facing the rigors of an 82 game NHL season. I look at Aaron Ness (who is signed for another year on an AHL-only deal) as someone who could teach Cole a lot about what getting to the next level will look like. Aaron is listed at 5'10" 188 (Cole 5'11" 172 both per hockeydb) and has played 72 NHL games across his long career. I have no doubt that John Carlson benefitted from Bryan Helmer's wisdom way back in 2009-10.

Further, defensemen usually take longer to develop. While Quinn Hughes made the jump after just one season of development*, most defensemen take a bit longer. Looking at a smattering of top D in 24-25: Lane Hutson (2 years of development); Cale Makar (2 years of development); Evan Bouchard (3 years of development minus a cup of coffee); Josh Morrissey (3 years of development); Adam Fox (3 years of development).

*Quinn played two years of College Hockey but one was prior to his draft year.

I'll end on a fun fact: Of the 8 D taken in the 2023 first round, not a single one has played an NHL game yet.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Quinn havent had a lot of injuries.
19/20 - Played 68/69
20/21 - Played 56/56
21/22 - Played 76/82
22/23 - Played 78/82
23/24 - Played 82/82

First real injury this year. Hughes is tied for 24th most games by defencemen at 410 games since he entered the league in 19/20 so he have not missed a lot of time.

To say Cole Hutson might be injury prone because another 5.11 player is injury prone doesnt give a lot of interesting info. Both larger and smaller players get injuries some might be more injury prone, but thats not usually because of their height, but genetics and training and how easy a muscle for example might tear. Also its to some degree up to the coaches. If players are overworked with to much ice time and muscles are starting to get tired you have a bigger chance to hurt them.

At some degree smaller players might be a little more injury prone by a hit as they take it harder by a big guy like Wilson for example coming full force. A guy like Ovi might withstand it well if hes in balance while a smaller player will be tossed away even in balance as hes simply not big enough to withstand a hit at full speed from a player with a lot more mass.

Someone else brought up the Hughes angle, I simply acknowledged they’re both injured (this year).

To suggest Hutson might NOT get hurt because of the history of one other small’ish guy in QH, doesn’t give a lot of interesting info either.

I just don’t think Hutson is physically ready to make the jump next year, but if you have something that suggests differently, lay it on me. I know we’d all love to see a young D force his way onto the roster unlike how (historically) it typically works for the Caps and their D prospects.

 

[Langway]

2025 NHL Draft ranking: Matthew Schaefer, Michael Misa lead Pronman’s March top 32 list

Schaefer is still the No. 1 ranked prospect and the favorite to go first but isn't an absolute lock to be the top pick.

www.nytimes.com

Hagens at 4. The Pronman lists a couple of bigger forwards I'm less familiar with (Prokhorov/Gard) and no Nesbitt. Hard to believe Nesbitt won't crack the first, particularly at his size and the fact that he's a center.