ST. PAUL, Minn. – Carter Hutton’s road to the National Hockey League wasn’t an easy one.
After spending four seasons in the NCAA ranks, he was signed by the Philadelphia Flyers and quickly found himself on the bench, an emergency back-up goaltender.
Just as quickly he was sent back to the minors.
It happened again in San Jose, and once more in Chicago before he finally managed to play in an NHL contest, suiting up for the Blackhawks on the final day of the 2012-13 campaign.
The following year Hutton wound up in Nashville, where he started a three-year stint as Pekka Rinne’s understudy.
Then, prior to last season, he signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Blues, where he was brought in to spell starter Jake Allen from time to time.
His two-year, $2.25-million deal seems like a bargain today, one of the best values in the NHL.
Last season Hutton made 30 appearances, finished 13-8-2 with a 2.39 goals against average and a .913 save percentage.
He’s been even better this season.
Hutton, who turned 32 last month and recorded a team-record 48-save shutout over the Winnipeg Jets, leads all goaltenders who have played more than 10 games with a 1.70 goals against average and a whopping .944 save percentage.
He’s also 7-3-0 in his dozen appearances in 2017-18.
“I’m just trying to be the best possible back-up I can be when I play and get a chance to get in there,” Hutton said in a recent exclusive interview with tbnewswatch.com.
“It’s good practice habits. I’m working hard with Dave Alexander, our goaltending coach, to stay sharp so when I get in there I’m effective,” he said.
“It’s kind of been the role I’ve been in for a few years now, so I’m just trying to be the best I can in it.”
It’s not easy sitting for long stretches, but he’s accustomed to the role, Hutton added.
“You deal with it. Some stuff you can’t control when you play. But at the same time I can control my habits when I prepare and take care of myself and those lead to success right there.”
Hutton is more concerned with team goals than individual ones, knowing the Blues are in the thick of the Stanley Cup hunt, sitting in second place in the Central Division at 25-15-2, a point behind the Winnipeg Jets.
Still, he’s hoping to be able to contribute to the team’s success when he does make his way between the pipes.
“My role is huge and those games are huge,” he said. “You need to pick up points whenever I get to play. For our team, I think it’s our final five plays. We can grind teams down and wear them down throughout 60 minutes, so I think if we stick to that game plan and play as a five-man unit, we’re really effective in this league.”
For his career, Hutton has a 53-35-14 record with nine shutouts and a 2.43 goals against average.
He's expected to make his third straight start for the Blues on Thursday night against Vegas.
