Ben Hutton and the Senators’ September Blue-Line Question

Nothing is particularly dramatic about the Ottawa Senators giving Ben Hutton a professional tryout. He isn't walking into camp with a guaranteed job, and the Senators aren't expecting him to suddenly solve some enormous problem on the blue line. But there is something worth watching here.

Hutton has been a reliable NHL blue-liner.

Hutton played 55 games for Vegas last season, scoring six goals and adding nine assists while averaging 14:35 a night. Those aren't spectacular numbers, but they say something important. Hutton is an experienced NHL defenceman who has already demonstrated that he can step into a lineup and play regular minutes.

That matters in September. Ottawa is also bringing Scott Harrington to camp on a tryout, so this isn't simply about Hutton. It's about competition for those last defensive spots and, perhaps more importantly, about how much confidence the Senators have in their organizational depth. This is one of those things that can look insignificant on the first day of training camp and become very significant six months later.

Young defencemen are extremely valuable in the NHL. But experience also matters.

Every NHL team wants young defencemen pushing for jobs. That's how a healthy organization is supposed to work. But there is a difference between having young players who might eventually be ready and having somebody who can actually play 15 minutes on a night when an injury hits.

Hutton provides that kind of possibility. The interesting part isn't whether he makes the Senators. It's what Ottawa learns from having him around. If one of the younger defencemen clearly outplays Hutton, that's a good outcome. The organization gets another indication that its development system is producing players ready to take NHL jobs.

If Hutton wins the competition, that's useful information, too. It means the Senators have found an inexpensive veteran who can provide some stability while the younger players continue developing.

Training camp can help teams figure out their rosters.

And that's really what training camp is supposed to uncover. There is always a temptation to look at a PTO and assume a player is merely trying to hang on. Sometimes that's true. But for the team, these invitations also create options.

The Senators don't need Hutton to be a star. They need him to make the blue-line decision a little harder. In September, that's a pretty good reason to be in camp.