If the Philadelphia Flyers want to continue stockpiling young, dynamic collegiate talent, they should look no further than Boston University winger Quinn Hutson, the older brother of Montreal Canadiens starlet Lane Hutson.
Hutson, 23, surprisingly went undrafted, but since being passed over, all he’s done is produce elite numbers for BU, showing significant improvement year over year.
The 5-foot-11 winger started his NCAA days with 15 goals, 13 assists, and 28 points in 39 games, improved to 18 goals, 18 assists, and 36 points in 40 games last year, and has exploded for 23 goals, 27 assists, and 50 points in just 36 games this season.
Average size and stature notwithstanding, Hutson leads BU in scoring this year, with 13 NHL-drafted players trailing him, including another younger brother, Cole Hutson, and Flyers prospect Devin Kaplan.
This kind of determination and delta of growth is perfect for a young, rebuilding Flyers team in need of more players at Hutson’s age and skill level.
Even better is that Hutson just came up big for his team, scoring the overtime game-winning goal, in addition to a prior assist, against Cornell to send BU into the Frozen Four.
Indeed, the Flyers already have an overabundance of right wingers, headlined by stars Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett, Tyson Foerster, and Bobby Brink.
The good news is that Michkov and Konecny and Foerster and Brink play on the same lines, so interim head coach Brad Shaw and the Flyers could reasonably slot Hutson into a third-line role right away if signed to an entry-level contract.
Another part of the appeal, of course, is the budding rivalry between Flyers fans and Canadiens fans.
The Canadiens, of course, passed on Michkov in the 2023 NHL Draft, and Michkov and Lane Hutson are currently going head-to-head for the 2025 Calder Memorial Trophy.
Could you imagine the fanfare and online discourse if the Flyers were to add Quinn Hutson to their ranks alongside Michkov?
Purely from a hockey standpoint, though, Hutson would be the perfect follow-up addition to Karsen Dorwart, who signed his entry-level contract with the Flyers on Saturday night.
Hutson already has an established feel for finding soft spots in defensive zone coverages and has an array of shots and release points in his arsenal already.
As a smaller player, the undrafted winger will have to continue to build up his play strength, wall play, and defensive details, but the same was true of Michkov at the start of this season.
By all accounts, things have worked out well for the feisty Russian star.
Hutson will assuredly have a mass of suitors lining up to secure his services when BU’s season ends, but the Flyers would be mistaken to not be among them, at the very least.
Joining brother Lane in Montreal would have the most appeal, given Lane is already an established NHL player, but never say never.
The Flyers should be all over this.
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