Overview
- The New York Islanders signed veteran defenseman Ben Hutton to a professional tryout agreement on Monday, Nov. 2, which lets him practice with the club but not play in games until he signs a standard NHL contract.
- The move responds to recent losses on the blue line, with Alexander Romanov expected to miss the season after an ACL tear and Ryan Pulock sidelined by an upper-body injury.
- Hutton, 33, is a Stanley Cup winner with the Vegas Golden Knights who has appeared in about 575 NHL games and posted six goals and 15 points in 2025-26.
- A PTO is an audition only, so the Islanders will evaluate Hutton in practice before deciding whether to offer a full roster contract that would allow him into regular-season play.
- If signed, Hutton would offer immediate veteran minutes and stability for the Islanders’ defense and give younger players time to develop while the team navigates an injured blue line.