Naturally, an increase in playing time for Ullmark has meant limited action for Hutton. He's made three starts since the beginning December and is winless since starting the season 6-0-0, though Krueger explained that there are more factors at play than just individual performance.
"We know that Carter can step up here," he said. "He had an excellent start of the season, some struggles of late. But it was more also the team performing differently in those games. There were some overtimes in there that didn't tip his way, so we're cheering for him as loud as anybody to get back on track result-wise.
"But he's always worked hard and has had some good weeks now with [assistant coach] Mike Bales. They've done a lot of extra work, and we feel Carter is ready to be the guy to step in here and carry the ball."
Hutton has vocally supported Ullmark along the way while keeping a day-to-day approach behind the scenes. He's seen it all since completing his long climb to the NHL at age 27, from backing up Pekka Rinne in Nashville, to splitting the net in St. Louis and, last year, earning the No. 1 spot in Buffalo.
"If I don't play well JJ is going to play," Hutton said. "There's no security in what we do. This is the NHL. In that sense, I'm just going to go out there and do what I do. It's hard to really look at the big picture in that sense. I'm not looking down the road or whatever. You just try to stay in the moment.
"It's just hockey. I leave the rink I've got a family I go to. It's just hockey. I come here, I do my job, I do my best, I put a lot of work into it, but at the end of the day, it's just hockey. I do what I do and put enough work to try to be as successful as possible."
Johansson, meanwhile, is looking to complete his own ascension to hockey's highest level. He spent three years in Sweden after being drafted in the third round in 2014, then spent the past two years playing primarily with the Sabres' ECHL affiliate in Cincinnati.
He's split the net with veteran Andrew Hammond in Rochester this season, his first full AHL campaign. His 13-3-3 record and .925 save percentage earned him a spot in the AHL All-Star Game in Ontario, California this past weekend.
"I just think it's excellent to take a look at him right now with the record he has," Krueger said. "… But it's, more than anything, psychologically how he's grown and developed thus far this season. It's a good opportunity to get to know each other."
