Cole Hutson is the top defense prospect in the Washington Capitals\u2019 system and arguably the entire NHL. The 19-year-old blueliner is playing his sophomore season at Boston University after the Caps selected him in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft.<\/p>\n
At the end of the 2025-26 campaign, Hutson will have a decision to make regarding his future, as the Capitals will likely offer him a three-year, entry-level contract. If he were to sign, he\u2019d forego the rest of his college eligibility and immediately turn pro in the club\u2019s organization.<\/p>\n
Hutson has previously indicated he is in no rush to cut his college career short<\/a>, but recently discussed the prospect of doing so to join the Capitals in an exclusive interview with RG\u2019s Marco D\u2019Amico<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I\u2019m lucky enough to get to that point, signing and joining Washington, I\u2019ll be super excited but probably super nervous too,\u201d Hutson told D\u2019Amico<\/a>. \u201cThat\u2019s when I\u2019m playing my best, when I\u2019ve got the most nerves and swagger.\u201d<\/p>\n In 18 games this season at BU, Hutson has recorded 20 points (7g, 13a), leading the No. 19-ranked Terriers. He is one of BU\u2019s alternate captains and should be in the running for the Hobey Baker Award, presented to the nation\u2019s top player at the end of the year.<\/p>\n As an 18-year-old defenseman last year, Hutson finished with 48 points (14g, 34a) in 39 games, leading all freshmen in scoring. He was named the 2025 Tim Taylor Award winner as NCAA Rookie of the Year<\/a>.<\/p>\n During the 2024-25 campaign, Hutson also starred in a gold-medal-winning effort with Team USA at the 2025 World Juniors, where he was teammates with fellow Capitals prospect Ryan Leonard. Hutson and Leonard have stayed in contact this season despite the latter moving on to the NHL with the Capitals.<\/p>\n \u201cMe and him text pretty much every day,\u201d Hutson said. \u201cWe\u2019re pretty close off the ice. I checked in when he got hurt, and he gives me an inside scoop on what the pro life is like.\u201d<\/p>\n Hutson also revealed that Leonard isn\u2019t the only member of the Caps who tries to keep in touch with him, as other members of the team\u2019s roster and their management staff are in near constant communication.<\/p>\n \u201cPlayers on the team just randomly text sometimes to check in,\u201d Hutson said. \u201cSomeone from the staff or players reaches out every day or every other day. It shows the kind of organization they\u2019ve built. It\u2019s a lot of pressure, but good pressure. They trust you not to let the culture dip. That\u2019s really cool and super exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n The Capitals went through a similar process with Leonard the past two seasons. After rebuffing their efforts to sign him after his freshman year at Boston College, Leonard joined the Capitals after his sophomore season, featuring in 17 combined regular-season and playoff games at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.<\/p>\n