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Ben Hutton will get his chance as injuries test NY Islanders blue-line depth

ByJiggs Westfall
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Sep 22, 2026; San Jose, California, USA; Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Ben Hutton (17) warms up before a game against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
Sep 22, 2026; San Jose, California, USA; Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Ben Hutton (17) warms up before a game against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The New York Islanders aren't taking any chances with their depleted defensive corps, signing veteran defenseman Ben Hutton to a one-year contract Thursday after initially bringing him aboard on a professional tryout earlier in the week.

The 33-year-old left-handed defenseman gives head coach Pete DeBoer another experienced option as the Isles navigate injuries to Ryan Pulock and Alexander Romanov.

According to PuckPedia, Hutton's contract carries a prorated $900,000 salary.

For Hutton, making the arrangement official was a welcome development after getting an opportunity to prove himself.

"To get it official was nice. It was good to get my foot in the door, but then to make it official was, yeah, a good feeling for sure," Hutton said. "The guys are great in here. They made me feel at home even on the PTO, so yeah, it was good."

With Pulock sidelined by an upper-body injury and Romanov facing an extended absence following knee surgery, the Islanders have been forced to adjust their defensive pairings. Most recently, Matt Kessel and Scott Mayfield have formed an all-right-handed third pairing, something Hutton's arrival could help address.

Hutton brings 575 games of NHL experience, including five seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2023. Last season, he recorded six goals and nine assists across 55 games.

Despite the signing, DeBoer isn't rushing the veteran into action, emphasizing the importance of getting Hutton back into game shape after an extended stretch without NHL competition.

Interestingly, the Islanders' penalty kill has remained one of their biggest strengths despite the injuries. Entering Thursday's matchup against Carolina, New York ranked among the NHL's top five teams with an 86 percent success rate.

Meanwhile, Pulock, Mathew Barzal and Matias Maccelli participated in Thursday's optional morning skate wearing noncontact jerseys, offering some encouragement regarding their recoveries.

For Hutton, the opportunity represents another chance to establish himself in the NHL. For the Islanders, it's a relatively inexpensive investment in experience, flexibility and much-needed defensive insurance.

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