Maine in the NHL | Week of Sept. 13–19, 2026
Ben Hutton isn't done yet.
The Maine Black Bears alumnus and Brockville, Ontario native has earned a professional tryout (PTO) with the Ottawa Senators, keeping his NHL career alive as teams finalize rosters ahead of the 2026-27 season. Hutton arrives in the nation's capital with 575 games of NHL experience — a résumé that speaks for itself and gives Ottawa something tangible on the back end.
The timing works in Hutton's favor. The Senators' blue line is already dealing with injury concerns heading into camp, creating a genuine opening for a veteran presence to step in and make a case for a contract. A PTO isn't a guarantee, but for a defenseman with Hutton's track record, it's a legitimate runway. Ottawa gets low-risk depth; Hutton gets a shot in front of a home-province crowd.
It's a quietly compelling story for Black Bear fans. Hutton was never a headline-grabbing offensive dynamo, but 575 NHL games tell the story of a player who kept finding ways to stick — through roster battles, organizational changes, and the relentless churn of a league that discards veterans quickly. Getting a look from an Ottawa market at this stage of his career reflects both his durability and the quiet respect he commands around the league.
No other Maine alumni made notable moves during the week of Sept. 13–19, though the program continues to maintain a strong footprint across the league. Jeremy Swayman holds down the crease in Boston, Gustav Nyquist brings veteran savvy to Winnipeg's wing, Bradly Nadeau continues to develop in Carolina, and Ryan Lomberg, Devin Shore, and Daniel Renouf round out a Black Bears alumni group that spans six franchises.
For now, though, all eyes from Orono point toward Ottawa — and whether Hutton can turn a tryout into one more chapter.
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