Cole Hutson leaning on brothers' experience on path to NHL

CHICAGO -- For Cole Hutson, all the inspiration he needs to make the NHL came from home. 

The Washington Capitals defenseman's brother Lane, 22, is a star defenseman with the Montreal Canadiens who has 146 points (18 goals, 128 assists) in 166 games and won the Calder Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL's top rookie, in 2024-25. His eldest brother, Quinn, 24, a forward, has been in the Edmonton Oilers' system the past two seasons and has played in six NHL games.

"I've always had big shoes to fill my whole life," the 20-year-old said at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase in Chicago on July 29. "So, it's just another one of those things where our parents are super proud of us and it's just a lot of fun to get going."

Now Hutson will look to make his own stamp on the League. He got off to a good start late last season, when he had 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 14 games with the Capitals. Hutson said he didn't sleep the night before his NHL debut on March 18, but his brothers were great sounding boards.

"Before my first game, there was a lot of talking. After that, I kind of settled in and got a little more comfortable, which is good," he said. "We didn't really talk much about hockey, just more off-ice stuff like just what we were doing, having fun, playing Xbox with each other."

The Hutsons are the latest trio of brothers in the NHL. Eric, Marc and Jordan Staal each played more than 1,000 games in the League. Eric and Marc are retired. Jordan is still playing, and the 37-year-old captain for the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup for the second time in his career in June. 

Brothers Quinn, Jack and Luke Hughes all currently play in the NHL. Quinn, 26, is a defenseman with the Minnesota Wild after they acquired him from the Vancouver Canucks last season. Jack, 25, is a forward with the New Jersey Devils and Luke, 22, a defenseman, is his teammate. 

Quinn and Jack Hughes helped the United States win its first Olympic gold since 1980 at the 2026 Winter Olympics in February.

"Our family personally, we've looked up to the Hughes a lot. They're in the same boat, close in age," Cole Hutson said. "Watching what they've done for USA Hockey, too, winning the gold is really cool. We look up to them, for sure, and it's just cool to have and see so many families that have been through the NHL, how tight the whole League is."

Cole was also the latest Hutson brother to play at Boston University (Quinn and Lane went there as well), where he had 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists) in 35 games last season. BU coach Jay Pandolfo said Cole could do big things for the Capitals.

"For us at BU watching Lane for two years, coaching him and watching him on a daily basis, we weren't surprised with the rookie year he had. I don't know if we thought he'd have 66 points and win rookie of the year, but we knew he was going to step right in and have an impact and be a factor," Pandolfo said. "We knew it and we feel the same way about Cole.

"He's just so gifted offensively and the forward group that Washington is building. They have size and with them being able to protect pucks in the offensive zone and Cole being able to move around the offensive zone and make plays and how good he'll be on that power play, I don't see how he's not going to be productive right away."

When he was at the Rookie Showcase, Hutson was getting antsy. He wanted to get to training camp as soon as possible – "It can't come any slower," he said.

Camp will be here soon enough. Hutson wants to take the next step and Pandolfo expects he'll do it.

"He got a huge benefit with the games he got to play in Washington in the NHL, and he had pretty good success right away, definitely with his production" Pandolfo said. "He's a guy on the back end that can drive offense, just like his older brother. I feel like he's going to produce right away. He's a really talented player, a really smart player. So, I'm looking forward to watching him."