And the defenceman's razor-sharp focus is currently on helping Boston University secure its sixth U.S. college hockey title at the NCAA Men's Frozen Four.Widely viewed as the Montreal Canadiens' top prospect, the 20-year-old could sign and have already played his first NHL game by this time next week — no matter what happens at the showcase in St. Paul, Minn.
Hutson, who helped the U.S. win gold at the 2024 world junior hockey championship after taking bronze 12 months earlier, was named an alternate captain — a sophomore rarity — following last season's 48-point freshman campaign that included a Frozen Four trip where his team lost in the semis. The same could be said for a number of players set to hit the ice at Xcel Energy Center for the annual event that will also feature a Thursday semifinal clash between Boston College and the University of Michigan. The title game goes Saturday.
Boston University blueliner Tom Willander is a player to watch along with college teammate Macklin Celebrini — the Vancouver native expected to go No. 1 at June's NHL draft — and Denver's Zeev Buium, another U.S. world junior winner, ranked as the No. 4 North American skater.