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overdoo · 09-30-2020, 07:49 PM

[Presser, ready for grading, 263 word introduction + 0.5 * 2859 in answers = $1.7 million expected payout]

Note - This is supposed to be focused on my player, Conner Hutton, and his SMJHL career. If I feel it necessary, I'll italicize my answer if it is from my point of view rather than Hutton's.

Coming off a game 7 loss to the Berserkers, Hutton was really focused on training, and getting the Kraken back to the finals this coming year. He wasn't going to be a part of it, but he didn't know that until just recently. Rumours of a call-up came in the round robin of the World Junior Championship, so it was not until afterwards Hutton put some thought into his situation. Some of his teammates had the feeling it would be his last run at a WJC medal, and the team found their way into the finals, only to lose and "settle" for gold. Conner Hutton still remained with the mindset that he could stay down, which may have been the most optimistic look on things, but not the most realistic.

He met some of his soon-to-be teammates in the New Orleans training camp, and was soon after temporarily called up for the preseason along with Kraken teammate Kwame Dakari. The two didn't do too bad while getting adjusted to the quicker pace of things, and Hutton, in the same fashion as his first game in the SMJHL, stole the show. At least as much as he could, on the Specters. He made out of his debut with a win, as well as two goals and an assist against his former Kraken goalie, Frans Eller. He still has a lot of work to do to reach the potential most see in him, but he has shown a capability to do it thus far. Now, he takes a break, to answer questions from the media.

09-30-2020, 07:56 PMWearingabear Wrote: How does it feel to be the first person from the the S55 crew to make the jump?

To put it pretty simply, weird. Pretty strange. Throughout my time in the SMJHL, I was pretty much told, or had heard that players normally spent 3-4 years in the juniours. I was alright with that too, it was time I wanted to build up my skills before making the jump, and I was blessed with a great team. I wanted to stay down for the most part. Obviously this offseason didn't go as planned for a lot of teams and players, and I guess I was just the one in this draft class that was given the opportunity. I'll miss Carolina, and everyone there, including the fans, but the SHL really was my main goal so it is hard to complain. The call-up has given me the chance to make an impact in New Orleans very early, and I'm happy to take it. I know a lot of guys from my class will be following me next season.

09-30-2020, 07:58 PMslothfacekilla Wrote: If I keep asking you questions in pressers can I have some of the money?

Thoughts on your SHL debut so far? What are you hoping your first unbanking will do for you?

How badly do you think Fox cheated to get that recent OT winner?

I think you would have to contact my team about that. Personally, this early on in my career, I think a veteran reporter like you will have a stronger bank account than me. I'm still needing to get my feet under me, but maybe we can plan something out later.

My SHL debut is about as good as it can get. I think I had a real surreal debut to the SMJHL, and I always hoped in the back of my head that I could do the same if not better in my debut to the SHL. I think part of the two performances is just coming into the league as a new player. They don't know how to defend my play style, let alone know what I am going to do. I'm also new to the respective leagues, so I could have taken risks that I may not anymore due to me really getting used to the speed of the game. The first game wasn't easy on me, but I had the trust from the coach to be able to run a powerplay, and it paid off because that is where I got my two goals. I have to thank my teammates for getting me that other assist shorthanded, something rare that I couldn't do myself.

Once I get more in tune with everything going on in the SHL, I think I can really flourish. I'll be better as the season goes on, so here is to hoping I can keep up my pace, even if it was surprising to me and everybody else.

I mean, I didn't have the connection with Fox that my teammates did, just due to never playing with him. I know it was probably big for him, but on our side we never really should have let it get to that point. We were up, and blew it, no real excuses about it. We should have had it, but we started giving them chances and it backfired. He is a good player, and we let him have it in overtime.

09-30-2020, 08:00 PMAce Wrote: I hate you.

Don't hate the player hate the game.

09-30-2020, 08:08 PMACapitalChicago Wrote: How do you feel your skating and play styles have changed during your time in the SMJHL?

Do you still have the same pregame ritual?

Best BBQ joint near the Arena?

Biggest influence from older members of the Kraken?

What will you miss most about the Spectrum Center?

What's your favorite of the Kraken jerseys?

What legacy do you hope you have left behind?

Biggest rival to the Kraken in your opinion?

Favorite team to play against?

Best way to relax postgame?

Craziest shenanigans the Kraken ever got up to?

I was always a pretty good skater I think, at least in my transition from minor hockey to the SMJHL. Although, in my two years with the Kraken I definitely noticed a change in my defensive play. With me, it was always pretty offensive play, and the coaches there really honed down on me being more of a two-way player. They didn't stop me from being that offensive player that I am, but taught me to be more reliable in my own end, which I think really paid off in the long run. There is still a ton I need to work on in the SHL to be that guy again, even though I never really was in the SMJHL. I've talked to the Specters management, along with coaching, and they are fully supportive of me playing the offensive role. For now, I think we are both focused on getting my skating, strength, and game sense up to speed with the SHL so I can still cover my own ass. Same thing I just mentioned about Carolina. I'll get there, but it is still a ways away.

Never really was one to have a huge pregame ritual, and some may even say it isn't one at all, rather a routine. I would slightly agree, but it's the most I do. I'll put of the left side of my equipment first, still go in the normal order, but left shin pad before right. left skate first, left glove first. Left leg into the pant first. It really isn't just a hockey thing either, so it isn't much. Just an answer to the question.

I think Coastal Kitchen and Bar is what I would go with. A little underrated too. It is one of those restaurants that is really just attached to a hotel, but it is very close to the arena and really has a menu based on that sort of food. I also liked Chima Steakhouse, but that isn't the traditional BBQ that you would find as much as you would in Coastal.

From the moment I came in, everyone on the team was very welcoming. Obviously Wagner has probably had the biggest impact on us all, but Eller, being an alternate captain in my rookie year, along with Keith Lee, they both made an impression on the franchise, and us rookies specifically that year. There were veteran guys like Cuddles, Knight, Friedland, and more that made the team great. It is kinda of a cop out answer to say Wager, or to straight up say everybody, but there is a reason we won my first season, and got close again. It was a very tightly-knit locker room, and everybody in there contributed.

Easily the fans. The arena itself is good, and you start getting used to it, just like I will eventually in the Smoothie King Center, but you just can't replace the fans. By the looks of it, I'll probably be saying the same about the Specters fans, but the support we got night in and night out at Spectrum, along with the noise and atmosphere, it just raises a high bar.

Probably our orange jerseys, I think there are a few teams that have real nice white jerseys, and I liked ours a lot as well, but the orange, black, and white just works so well on that jersey. It was simple, and it looked amazing. It also helped my spot some teammates in my peripheral vision, which is always a bonus, and it is pretty hard to confuse orange jerseys. It was also real cool to see a full crowd of orange and black, it had a different effect on you compared to other team colours like blue, or green. That could obviously be a little biased, but it was a sight to behold.

I really don't think I was with the Kraken long enough to leave a meaningful legacy. I won the cup as a rookie, which is an experience I will never forget, but I didn't have a huge impact in those playoffs like some other players had. I had the alternate captaincy for a season after Eller and Lee departed, but was called up later. I was never really a standout player on that team, I think if I want to be remembered for anything it would be by my teammates for just being the guy who helped uphold the locker room values. If that doesn't happen, I don't really blame them. I don't expect to go down as a legend for what I did on the ice.

Some might say our rival was Maine, but I really believe that with my time with the team, it was Newfoundland. It was always us competing against each other, and it was us that went head to head in playoffs, 7 games each series. One year we advanced, the next they did. We both got cups out of it. Every game we played them I always ended up somewhat frustrated, they were heated, physical games that always had a twist game to game. They'd be my pick.

I always liked playing against the Maine Timber. They were a good team, and I feel like we always had really competitive and clean games, nothing really out of the ordinary, just good hockey. I played pretty good against them too, so that helps, but mostly just great games between us. Lots of respect I feel, especially between our class.

Some good food, maybe a hot tub, some movies, just real lazy stuff. When I was still playing in Saskatchewan, winter walks were sort of relieving with the cold, but you don't get that type of thing in Carolina or New Orleans. There were times I would train and do all that after while I was in that mindset, but otherwise it was really unproductive.

I think that Kraken suit tradition for rookies is still up there. It is silly, weird, and yet really got everyone together. It was pretty fun to be in a suit like that, then see the rookies my second year put them on. Just a real fun team bonding thing that everyone took with good hearts. That was probably when I knew I was in the right place.

09-30-2020, 08:36 PMFitted2106 Wrote: Will you try to hurt Michael Fitted if you get a chance?

I mean, I go into games hoping not to hurt anyone. I guess I don't want that to be taken as me being soft, but I don't really respect the guys that only aim to hurt their opponents. Even if I was that type, I think it would be pretty hard to try and hurt a legend like Fitted.

09-30-2020, 09:57 PMHuck24 Wrote: How are you liking the city of New Orleans?

Have you set any goals for yourself this season?

Carolina bbq or cajun / creole cooking?

Both Carolina and New Orleans are big changes from what I was used to back in Saskatchewan, but New Orleans doesn't seem too bad. It's something I can get into, just need to get used to what it offers at first. Never had any bad impressions of it so it shouldn't be hard.

I'm going into this season with the exact same mindset I went into my SMJHL rookie season with. Just getting better as a player, getting used to the speed of the game in the SHL, just adapting overall. Obviously I would love to have an impact on the team, and have us do good, but that'll happen as we go anyway. I think sort of thinking is a little bit more important this season, considering how young I am compared to most of the SHL, but it had worked in the SMJHL.

Carolina BBQ was incredible, so I'll really have to decide once I have a bit more over here in New Orleans. Both locations are known for their own type of food, and I'm pretty blessed to enjoy both of them. For now, I can't really decide between the two.

09-30-2020, 10:05 PMbluesfan55 Wrote: do you think you can live up to the expectations of being a specters first round pick (with the last two first rounders who were called up both having rings in olli saarinen jr and mvdh who played a pretty big role in the s54 playoffs)?

is there any shl player who you look up to or consider a role model?

why is the boat team good (you can't say no)?

I hope so, but if we do end up getting a cup it'll be a team effort, I won't be the one doing the most work on the team by any metric. I'd love to come in and have a big impact as long as I am here, however I won't be putting too much pressure on myself to do it. If I can make a good impression, that is all the matters for me personally, everything else is for the team.

I don't think so, most of the guys I looked up to are gone now, back from when I was a kid. There are a lot of guys in the league who you see consistently working their asses off, always going their hardest, and I think that is something I really want to follow in the footsteps of. I guess I don't tend to look up to many people singularly, but I definitely try to adapt to some of the good traits shown in the league from everyone.

Sometimes they win a game.

09-30-2020, 11:51 PMmee Wrote: Why is the boat team bad? (You could say no, but there's no reason for you to)

Why do you think you got called up before your mortal S55 brethren, such as myself?

Sometimes they lose a game.

In reality, it was a mix between the dry defenseman pool the free agency market had, and the departure of two Specters, one in retirement, and one in the expansion draft. It would be a tough position to recover from for any team, and I guess if they think I am the best choice they've got, a call-up is imminent. Our draft class has a lot of defenders, so in reality it could have been any of them getting called up this season were they on the Specters, but it was me. Nothing special about me, just a weird situation I was involved in. I'll see some of you guys next year!

10-01-2020, 01:33 AMMazatt Wrote: You've been off to a terrific start. As the youngest player currently in the SHL, how much confidence does it give you that you are able to step in and play a key role in winning?

You're debut game against New England and ex-teammate Frans Eller was impressive--two goals and an assist enroute to a 10 goal slaughter. Did you go out and score those goals because you hate Frans Eller or is it becuase you love to have great games in your first games at every level? Do you feel you can maintain this hot streak, or is it not a streak at all and this is who you are on the ice? Was Foley holding you back from scoring this much in Carolina?

There have been reports that you have shopped at Baby's-R-Us recently to take a look at their shoe selection, is there any credence to these rumours? Is it true that Conner Hutton has tiny little baby feet that required special, baby sized skates in order for him to play?

You know, considering I was the choice to step in for the Kraken, it gives me a bit of confidence. However, at the same time, I'm the youngest here. I'm probably the least developed here. It likely isn't the right way to look at this type of thing, but it is true. So it is a little bit weird, I'll struggle, I'll screw up, but that is likely expected of me. Learning experience at the worst.

It was nice to get it against Eller, I teased guys on the team like Hanson, Yxskaft, and him, who were part of our Four Star Cup run. I always like having that good debut game, so I'm happy it went well for me, at least. In the end though, it would not have mattered if it was Eller or not, I didn't put more or less effort in because it was him, and I'm sure he wouldn't want me to. I'm hesitant to call a single game a part of a hot streak, so I will say it isn't a hot streak. My game doesn't change, or my style rather. I'll have bad games, and some good mixed in, and it just happened to work out for me that night. I'm sure I'll have another game like this eventually, and I am sure I'll have a game coming up where I blow the game for the team. As far as Carolina goes, Foley and I were still only on the second pair, even though minutes were pretty even. You may have noticed both my goals were on the powerplay for my SHL debut, I have already had more powerplay time here than I had in Carolina, which helps me. Of course I wasn't the best option there, but it is my play style. Foley probably helped me in the first season and a bit more, he was the defensive player I needed to lean on while adjusting to the league. Don't think he could have done me any better, and I'm happy to see him doing well with Carolina this season.

Those rumours are true, I was indeed shopping there, I got some nice white and pink shoes as a gift for someone on Carolina. I feel like when someone gets the captaincy of a team, you have to congratulate them somehow, and I figured it was appropriate considering he was stepping into a new role. I'm sure you know who I'm talking about here.

10-01-2020, 11:24 AMBongo Wrote: HUTTS..

What is your goal as an Shl player? Superstar status? Challenge cups?
How is the LR in the big leagues boy
Does Hutton go where the big money is or does he stay loyal through and through?
Who will finish last this season?
Best 6’11 d man in the smjhl. Go.

My goal as an SHL player.. I'm probably going to shoot for one of the guys remembered in New Orleans. If I am a superstar, sure. If I bring a cup to the city, amazing, if I break a record on the way, great, but I want to have an impact on this team. On the way to doing that I'm sure it'll be clear what I am defined as, but I just want to be remembered for one reason or another. Just hopefully.. a good reason.

Locker room here is great, guys have been very welcoming, and thankfully not as many rookie traditions as I had expected. It is a new group of guys so a little adjusting on my end is needed, but I'll get comfortable there eventually, I'm sure about that.

I tend to be a real loyal guy. Money is great, but the Specters took a chance on me so I'm not trying to do them dirty by any means. Obviously if I feel like I'm done dirty, I might want a change, but I just don't see that happening with how things have gone so far. They've made sure to do what is best for me for a while now, so it is what it is. Final answer though, I'm staying loyal.

I don't really tend to focus on other teams, at least this early. By the looks of how the season has gone, Baltimore and San Francisco haven't been doing too hot so far, So I guess between them I will pick Baltimore, with the Eastern Conference being so strong once again this year. I wouldn't want to play some of those teams as much as they will be.

Well, i think the obvious answer here is Friedland, the dude is a monster, on and off the ice. I've never seen a guy bang girls before a game, during every intermission, and then again afterwards in my life, until I met this guy. Absolute stud of a man, and I'm glad I don't have to compete with him anymore.

Wearingabear · 09-30-2020, 07:56 PM

How does it feel to be the first person from the the S55 crew to make the jump?

*slothfacekilla* · 09-30-2020, 07:58 PM

If I keep asking you questions in pressers can I have some of the money?

Thoughts on your SHL debut so far? What are you hoping your first unbanking will do for you?

How badly do you think Fuzz cheated to get that OT winner?

***Ace*** · 09-30-2020, 08:00 PM

I hate you.

ACapitalChicago · 09-30-2020, 08:08 PM

How do you feel your skating and play styles have changed during your time in the SMJHL?

Do you still have the same pregame ritual?

Best BBQ joint near the Arena?

Biggest influence from older members of the Kraken?

What will you miss most about the Spectrum Center?

What's your favorite of the Kraken jerseys?

What legacy do you hope you have left behind?

Biggest rival to the Kraken in your opinion?

Favorite team to play against?

Best way to relax postgame?

Craziest shenanigans the Kraken ever got up to?

S66 Damian Littleton

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Fitted2106 · 09-30-2020, 08:36 PM

Will u try to hurt michael fitted if you get a chance?

Huck24 · 09-30-2020, 09:57 PM

How are you liking the city of New Orleans?

Have you set any goals for yourself this season?

Carolina bbq or cajun / creole cooking?

***bluesfan55*** · 09-30-2020, 10:05 PM

do you think you can live up to the expectations of being a specters first round pick (with the last two first rounders who were called up both having rings in olli saarinen jr and mvdh who played a pretty big role in the s54 playoffs)?

is there any shl player who you look up to or consider a role model?

why is the boat team good (you can't say no)?

mee · 09-30-2020, 11:51 PM

Why is the boat team bad? (You could say no, but there's no reason for you to)

Why do you think your player got called up before your mortal S55 brethren, such as myself?

Mazatt · 10-01-2020, 01:33 AM

You've been off to a terrific start. As the youngest player currently in the SHL, how much confidence does it give you that you are able to step in and play a key role in winning?

You're debut game against New England and ex-teammate Frans Eller was impressive--two goals and an assist enroute to a 10 goal slaughter. Did you go out and score those goals because you hate Frans Eller or is it becuase you love to have great games in your first games at every level? Do you feel you can maintain this hot streak, or is it not a streak at all and this is who you are on the ice? Was Foley holding you back from scoring this much in Carolina?

There have been reports that you have shopped at Baby's-R-Us recently to take a look at their shoe selection, is there any credence to these rumours? Is it true that Conner Hutton has tiny little baby feet that required special, baby sized skates in order for him to play?

overdoo · 10-01-2020, 02:32 AM

@Wearingabear, @slothfacekilla, @Ace, @ACapitalChicago, got all yours answered tonight. Everyone else I will get to tomorrow hopefully, but for now I have to do a quick read-up for exams tomorrow.

Bongo · 10-01-2020, 11:24 AM

HUTTS..

What is your goal as an Shl player? Superstar status? Challenge cups?
How is the LR in the big leagues boy
Does Hutton go where the big money is or does he stay loyal through and through?
Who will finish last this season?
Best 6’11 d man in the smjhl. Go.

overdoo · 10-05-2020, 03:05 AM

@Fitted2106, @Huck24, @bluesfan55, @mee, @Mazatt, @Bongo, finished all your questions up, took much longer than I wanted it to take, but I couldn't find much time throughout the week to do it.

Mazatt · 10-05-2020, 03:00 PM

10-05-2020, 03:05 AMoverdoo Wrote: Those rumours are true, I was indeed shopping there, I got some nice white and pink shoes as a gift for someone on Carolina. I feel like when someone gets the captaincy of a team, you have to congratulate them somehow, and I figured it was appropriate considering he was stepping into a new role. I'm sure you know who I'm talking about here.

Not even going for the Lightning McQueen Size 5 crocs for an unnamed captain. Really says a lot about society

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