On March 15, 2026 the Washington Capitals pulled the trigger on signing standout 19 year-old defenseman Cole Hutson to a three year entry level contract fresh off his sophomore hockey season at Boston University (BU). In a trade that shocked the world, veteran defenseman of 17 years John Carlson was traded to the Anaheim Ducks for a 2026/2027 first round pick. Additionally, forward Nic Dowd of 8 years went to the Vegas Golden Knights for AHL goaltender Jesper Vikman and a second round pick in the 2027 NHL draft. It is looking like the Capitals are aiming for a more young, fast, and aggressive team as they close out the season.
Cole Hutson’s overall contract will carry an annual value of $975,000, about $2.82 million over the three years. This is considered on the higher end one can receive in an entry-level contract. Furthermore, the 19 year old is expected to immediately start his NHL career, playing in the final 14 games of the season, leaving the contract valid for the ‘27 and ‘28 season.
In an interview on Capitals Radio Network, NHL sportscaster and host of the network Katie Florio asked head coach Spencer Carbury about the drastic transition for Hutson from playing college hockey to the NHL in just these few days. Carbury stated that it ” doesn’t matter if you’re coming from a major junior college” since the jump to play defense in the NHL is “significantly more challenging than playing forward.” Because of this, Carbury states that it’s going to “be an adjustment, and it’s going to be a learning process for Cole.” The rookie defenseman was seen practicing Tuesday at the Medstar Iceplex with veteran Matt Roy, working on the second power-play unit indicating a potential top 4 role on the team. After the recent trade of Nic Dowd and John Carlson, the Capitals are expected to integrate Cole Hutson into a top defensive position as new talent is expected to come in the upcoming seasons.
Cole Hutson will undoubtedly be a sign of what the Capitals can accomplish in the next few years. With these seeds being planted, the future is looking bright as the team puts to bed rumors of being an older team living in 2018. Though the Capitals chances of making it to the playoffs are slowly fading away after a roller coaster of a season, Hutson just might be the spark that the Capitals need to make up ground in the eastern conference. This is an exciting time to watch as focus is set for next season.
The Capitals are set to go against the New Jersey Devils tomorrow, March 20 at 7:00 EST in Capital One Arena marking the second game of their home stretch in Washington. After a game for the books against Ottawa yesterday, the Capitals are looking to keep this momentum going as we move towards playoffs.
