Music City is where goalie Carter Hutton hopes to finally make his mark in the NHL.
The Thunder Bay native on July 5 signed a one-year, two-way $575,000 deal with the Nashville Predators, but the expectation is the 27-year-old will serve as back-up to all-star Pekka Rinne.
Hutton said the offer arrived within minutes of the opening of the free-agent season, and he said it was simply too good to refuse.
“It was a situation where the opportunity was really what I needed,” said Hutton, who finally got into an NHL game late this past season with the Chicago Blackhawks, a 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues on the final day of the shortened season.
Nothing’s a given, he said, but all signals are pointing to him being entrenched on the Predators bench when the 2013-14 campaign begins
It will complete a journey that started with the K&A Golden Hawks of the Superior International Junior Hockey League and took him through the NCAA and three NHL organizations before he landed on his feet in Nashville, where he’ll get a first-hand look at the development of defenceman Seth Jones, the No. 4 pick in the recent draft.
“I’ve paid my dues in the American Hockey League. I’m not sure how much more I can do there. At the same time, there are a lot of good goalies out there. And to be named right now, in the top 60, to be a back-up in the NHL and to be able to keep my game going is the biggest thing.”
Hutton was along for the ride with the Blackhawks on their magical Stanley Cup run, and although his name won’t be engraved on the trophy, he will get a coveted Cup ring and said he plans to share former teammate Patrick Sharp’s day with the Cup in Thunder Bay, expected sometime next month.
“I’m just going to join in with Sharpie. I don’t think he has a choice,” Hutton joked.
On Wednesday, as he joined local youngsters and the annual Easter Seals Skate with the Stars, he fondly recalled his first and only NHL appearance to date, giving him a taste of what he hopes are plenty more starts to come.
“I think it was something I definitely wasn’t rushed into. I’d backed up games with Philadelphia, San Jose and then Chicago. So getting in there was nice, being able to play. I think I was prepared for it,” said Hutton, who posted a 2.72 goals against average and .908 save percentage with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs in 51 games last season.
“Then moving forward I think I can take a lot from that. I think I proved I can play at that level and that’s something that was reassuring to myself moving forward into next season.”
The Predators have told Hutton they want him to get into between 20 and 25 games next season, a fair chunk for a back-up playing behind one of the game’s best.
“With Pekka Rinne, he’s coming off hip surgery right now and there’s the Olympic break as well. They have full intentions of him playing for Finland. So they’re asking a lot out of me, and at the same time, that’s a challenge that I’m up for,” Hutton said.
“I’ve got to win my games. That’s the biggest thing for a back-up goalie – win your games. I’m going to play situations where we played the night before. We’re flying in and I have to be ready for that. A successful season for me is winning hockey games.”
