Grant Hutton was not drafted.
He's been chasing the NHL since signing with the Miami-Ohio Islanders nearly five years ago, appearing in 18 games with the big club and becoming a veteran presence in Bridgeport thanks to his troubles. I also received a backhanded compliment.
The dream is etched on his face, which is missing his front teeth.
“You keep hearing that I’m old, but I’m 29 years old now,” he said before the Islanders’ 5-2 win over the Rangers in Friday’s final preseason game. “You never know when your last chance will be.”
You'd think this opportunity, the chance to join the active roster as the team's seventh defenseman out of camp, would mean the world to him.
“I've been around this organization for a long time and experienced what the NHL is like,” Hatton said. “Like I said before, once you get a taste of it, it's hard to imagine doing it any other way. I'm glad to be here.”
The Islanders' six everyday defensemen arrived at camp essentially ready to go.
The only question was about No. 7 on the depth chart, and Samuel Bolduc was thought to be in a good position since he served in the same role all last season.
However, at this late stage of training camp, Bolduc appears to have passed Hatton and Dennis Cholowski on the depth chart, with Hatton getting a chance to take a final audition Friday night.
“It's just the level of consistency,” coach Patrick Roy said of Bolduc. “He's a good hockey player and has great potential. But I think what I like more than Cholowski and Hatton is the consistency they bring to the game.”
That's a calling card for Hatton, and he smiled Friday when asked if he likes it when others describe his game as simple.
“Indeed,” he said. “For me, more than anything when I'm on the ice, I want my teammates to believe that they can carry themselves. Number two, I want to be able to contribute to what we're trying to accomplish here. … When you're here, whether you're playing big minutes or being limited, you have to be consistent in your game. That's my goal and my path to the NHL.”
Kyle Palmieri and Scott Mayfield were two of the only lineup regulars who did not play in Friday's game.
Palmieri was suspended for maintenance, but since Mayfield had already appeared in four preseason games, the Islanders didn't think it was necessary to use him for a fifth time.
