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THE BEST DEFENSEMAN IN THE AHL 

Mitch Beck, 16 years ago 2 2 min read  

The Wolf Pack have had a number of really solid defensemen come through their organization over the years but none has had a more dominant season than Andrew Hutchinson. Congratulations to a fine player and a better person.

Here’s the official release:

Headshot_hutchinson

WOLF PACK’S HUTCHINSON CAPTURES EDDIE SHORE AWARD
* * * *
AHL Recognizes Pack Captain as League’s Top Defenseman

The American Hockey League today named Hartford Wolf Pack captain Andrew Hutchinson the 2007-08 winner of the Eddie Shore Award. The Shore Award is given each season to the AHL’s outstanding defenseman, as voted by league players, coaches and members of the media in each of the league’s 29 cities. Hutchinson’s selection as this year’s winner makes him the first Wolf Pack blueliner in the 11-year history of the franchise to capture the award.

A sixth-year pro, Hutchinson has struck for 18 goals and 46 assists for 64 points, and is a +25, on the season, tops among all AHL blueliners in points and assists and tied for the league lead in goals among blueliners. His 18 goals and 64 points are Wolf Pack franchise records for defensemen, and he has tied the franchise mark for assists by a blueliner in a single season. Also, Hutchinson this year registered the first hat trick ever by a Wolf Pack defenseman, February 8th at Providence, and the first five-point game by a Pack blueliner, February 29th at home vs. Norfolk.

Hutchinson has played in 95 NHL games in his career, with Nashville and Carolina (career totals: 10-23-33), and has logged 255 career AHL games, with totals of 49-111-160.

The Pack wrap up the regular season with three games this week, starting with a visit Friday night to Springfield (7:30 PM faceoff). The Wolf Pack’s final regular-season home game is this Saturday night, April 12th, a GEICO Connecticut Cup skirmish with Bridgeport at 7:00. That is the Pack’s annual “Fan Appreciation Night”, as randomly-selected fans receive the Wolf Pack players’ “Shirts Off Our Backs”.

More on the honor to Hutchinson can be found at TheAHL.com. Bruce Berlet has a terrific profile on Hutchinson and his getting this honor in the Courant.

(Andrew Hutchinson photo courtesy Hartfordwolfpack.com)

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Mitch Beck
Mitch Beck was a standup comedian and radio personality for over 25 years. His passion for hockey started with Team USA in 1980 when they defeated the Soviets at Lake Placid. He is now working in the hockey industry full-time as a coach and administrator. Mitch has been reporting on the New York Rangers, and exclusively on the Hartford Wolf Pack / Connecticut Whale since 2005.

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2 Comments

  1. fran

    When would it be possible to bring Hutchinson up to Rangers without exposing him to waivers?

    16 years ago Reply
  2. Mitch Beck

    Fran,
    That’s a very common question and here is the answer. NO… “Hutch” has too much experience and is too old to be exempt from a waiver wire claim. Tommy Pock has the same issue which is why both still play in Hartford.
    Hutch will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. The Rangers would absolutely be crazy not to resign Hutch to at least a three year deal. I wouldn’t give him a longer deal because he’s not a kid but he’s shown such tremendous growth in all aspects of his game this season that he should be given the chance to come to NYC and make his game at the NHL level. I’ve seen every one of his games this season and he is one of the major missing pieces for the Rangers. He’s a decent defender, has a bomb of a shot from the point and is a tremendous passer i.e PP quarterback.
    Thanks for adding your voice to those that make this site so much fun to be a part of and hope to hear from you again soon.

    16 years ago Reply

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