It was only a matter of time for 23-year-old Quinn Hutson, as the Edmonton Oilers officially announced that they are calling up the standout forward from Bakersfield. This comes in the aftermath of the Oilers 4–1 defeat to the Montreal Canadiens, where they struggled to generate secondary scoring.
Hutson: We Have No Problem
The high-scoring AHL rookie currently leads all first-year players in the American Hockey League in points with 16 goals, 12 assists, and 28 points across just 24 contests. The North Barrington, Illinois, product is on pace for 84 points.
Before this season, Hutson was mostly known for his methodical playmaking, which prioritized smart give-and-go passes and strategically timed efforts to manipulate pace and generate chances.
Since his AHL debut, Hutson has elevated his scorer’s touch with Bakersfield as the 23-year-old generates around four shots per game with a 60% accuracy and a 23% shooting percentage. His 3:08 of power play time per game with the Condors proves how complete his offensive prowess has been this season.
What will the Oilers get out of Hutson?
What the young forward gives the Oilers is simple: more secondary scoring and higher-end playmaking from the Oilers’ bottom of the lineup. This has been an issue, which explains why Hutson was at the top of the list for internal organization solutions.
Hutson’s game is defined by a non-stop motor, high-end puck skills, a solid hockey IQ, and evident offensive senses. He is an offensive threat in every shift he plays, be it as a sniper or playmaker. His limitations are those of below-average skating and physicality, so no player is without flaws.
He thrives the most in the offensive zone, which explains his power play usage as a facilitator and shooter, in addition to 85% of all of his AHL shifts starting in the offensive zone. When you also play 17:54 of TOI per game, that adds up to a lot of offensive pressure support from the young 23-year-old.
Hutson could play a role like what was expected of Isaac Howard as a top-nine offensive driver, which the NCAA alum is more than capable of if his AHL role was any indication. This call-up is also a testament that the Oilers’ prospect development strategies of targeting older prospects have already borne some fruit.
Where could Hutson line up?
Expect him in the bottom-six, where he could be a more offensive-minded complement player to a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or an Adam Henrique. He’s also no stranger to NHL action, as he appeared with the Oilers in two games near the end of the 2024–25 campaign with the Oilers.
Wherever he does line up, expect the undrafted forward to be out to prove that he belongs in the NHL.
Are you excited to see more prospects in the Oilers’ lineup? Do you think a player like Hutson will address the Oilers’ secondary scoring issues? Let us know in the comments below.
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