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WWYDW: Would you elevate Quinn Hutson in the Oilers’ lineup?
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Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Michael Menzies
Dec 17, 2025, 20:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 17, 2025, 19:31 EST
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Many in Oilersnation were excited to see Quinn Hutson earn a call-up to the Edmonton Oilers after his stellar showing so far this season with the Bakersfield Condors. 
What’s not to like about Hutson? 
He was third in the AHL in goals and points after receiving the nod to join the big club in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, thanks in part to a seven-game heater. 
In Hutson’s last seven AHL games dating back to Nov. 29, Hutson accumulated eight goals, 4 assists, and 12 points. He’s done his most damage this season on the power play, with eight goals this year on the man advantage. 
However, some in Oilers social media were annoyed with Hutson’s placement on the depth chart, and subsequent usage in the game, as head coach Kris Knoblauch put him on the 4th line with Curtis Lazar and Trent Frederic. 
There’s a lot of excitement about Hutson considering his strong NCAA career, his AHL tear, and because he’s an older prospect who turns 24-years-old in a couple weeks. That’s prime age for an NHLer.  
In this week’s What Would You Do Wednesday, would you keep Hutson on the 4th line, or elevate him in the top-6? 

The Penguins game

Hutson played 6:59 of TOI over the course of 12 shifts against the Penguins, finishing with one shot on goal and -1. 
That was the second fewest minutes amongst Oilers skaters, as Curtis Lazar’s suspected 2nd period injury forced him out for a stretch. 
At 5-on-5, Hutson primarily lined up with Lazar and Frederic, according to Natural Stat Trick, but there was 1:04 of time with Andrew Mangiapane and Frederic, which resulted in a goal against with 14 seconds left in regulation. Frederic’s lackadaisical effort seems to be a primary culprit on the goal against. 
The game was plagued with specialty teams, as the Oilers had four powerplays and the Pens had six, disrupting minutes for Hutson. There were a couple occasions when McDavid was out with Hutson and Frederic, as Lazar only played one shift in the 3rd period. 
Knoblauch receives flak at times for his patience, or depending on your view, in giving inexperienced NHL players ice time. 
We saw it take Matt Savoie over a month to crack into the top-6, but now seems stapled to Draisaitl’s wing. Knoblauch also was criticized with Noah Philp being scratched after scoring a goal against Vancouver on Oct. 26. 

My take

I don’t mind Hutson starting on the fourth line in this callup to begin games. The top-6 is cooking right now and I don’t think he wants to break that up. 
The bottom-6 overall is a black hole of offence, with wingers Frederic, Mangiapane, and Janmark unable to produce, and Adam Henrique tied to at least two of them to make things happen. 
It ain’t pretty. 
However, I could see Hutson being better playing beside Adam Henrique, or if the lines remain the same, the minutes being similar between each line. 
I don’t think starting Hutson in the top-6 in a guy is a great move, because if it isn’t going well, there’s nowhere for him to go than down in the lineup. That could be more of a confidence killer than starting on the 4th line. 
Instead, Hutson could work his way up in-game, getting a shift or two with either McDavid or Draisaitl. 
I’m guessing Knoblauch doesn’t want to put any expectations on Hutson yet, which is not a bad strategy, and this is a dip-the-toes-in-the-water type of callup with the Oilers injuries. If Hutson played beside McDavid, I’d suspect the sacrificial lamb to be Nugent-Hopkins to drop and play 3rd line center. 
My call would be to give Hutson a shot with Henrique and Mangiapane, and let Frederic-Lazar-Janmark figure it out. 
But what would you do? 

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