The Washington Capitals have signed electrifying defenceman Cole Hutson to a three-year entry-level contract, the team announced on Sunday.
Hutson, 19, was selected in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft and spent this season playing for Boston University in the NCAA.
Hutson led the Terriers in assists, points, game-winning goals (four), overtime goals (two), shots (148) and plus-minus (+13). As a sophomore, Hutson ranked tied for fifth among NCAA defensemen in scoring at his season’s end and was named a Hockey East First Team All-Star for the second straight season.
The brother of Montreal Canadiens star defenceman Lane Hutson and Edmonton Oilers winger Lars Hutson, Cole made a name for himself playing for the United States at the World Juniors each of the past two tournaments.
Hutson served as an alternate captain for the Americans at the 2026 tournament and recorded four points in three games.
At the 2025 World Juniors, Hutson helped lead Team USA to a gold medal and finished as the tournament’s leader in points (11) and plus-minus (+11). Hutson broke Team USA’s single-tournament scoring record for a defenceman and became the first defenceman in World Junior Championship history to lead the tournament in scoring.
The St. Louis native led all defencemen in scoring in the NCAA over the past two seasons.