Hutton debuts hot rod-inspired mask

ST. LOUIS - Carter Hutton's new mask is so loud and aggressive, seeing it might make your eyes bulge from their sockets.
And if they do, well - you'll be a spitting image of Hutton's new lid.

The left side of Hutton's mask features an intense, manic-looking creature with bulging, blood-shot eyes. He's driving a blue hot rod car, presumably much faster than the suggested speed limit.
"It's obviously pretty cool," Hutton said. "It looks intense, it looks aggressive. I love it."
The creature comes from the design portfolio of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, a cartoonist who also was an avid car collector and designer. Roth died in 2001 but created a series of characters with bulging eyes, including Rat Fink - an anti-hero answer to Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse.

"My designer gets free reign with my masks," Hutton said. "He's done all of my masks. He always does a good job with it so I have a lot of trust in him. This year he spun it with the Ed 'Big Daddy' Roth character. I think it's cool."
The right side of the mask features the words "St. Louis Blues" in a graffiti style similar to what Hutton used in one of his masks last season. In bold yellow type, the team name pops against the metallic blue paint that serves as its base. Hutton's No. 40 remains on the chin, as does the fish he always includes on the mask's backplate, which is a reminder of a fishing derby he participates in every summer with friends and family back home in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
All of Hutton's masks also feature a No. 3, which is a tribute to his late cousin, who also was a hockey player.

The mask was designed by Jesse Acciacca of Jesse's Custom Design in Massachussetts. Acciacca is also responsible for Hutton's popular Cardinals-themed Winter Classic mask last season.
"He always comes up with really creative stuff," Hutton added. "I think my masks are always definitely on the cutting edge and very unique, dating back to when I played in college. Jesse does a great job and I always look forward to seeing what he will come up with next."
To see more masks from Jesse's Custom Design, visit their website at jessescustomdesign.net or find them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.