Hutson joined the Washington Capitals when he signed a three-year, entry-level contract March 15, 2026, after two seasons at Boston University. He led the Terriers in assists (22) and points (32) and was third in goals (10) in 35 games as a sophomore and was selected to the All-Hockey East First Team for the second straight season. His 80 points (24 goals, 56 assists) in 74 games were the most among NCAA defensemen in his two seasons.

Cole Hutson, a second-round pick (No. 43) by the Capitals in the 2024 NHL Draft, has two older brothers. Lane Hutson is a defenseman selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round (No. 62) of the 2022 NHL Draft. Quinn Hutson, a forward, signed a two-year, entry-level contract as an undrafted free agent with the Edmonton Oilers on April 14, 2025.

Cole represented the United States twice at the IIHF World Junior Championship. He was the first defenseman to lead the WJC outright in points with 11 (three goals, eight assists) in seven games to help the U.S. win the gold medal in 2025, setting a Team USA single-tournament scoring record for a defenseman and becoming the first at his position to lead the WJC in scoring.

He missed two games at the 2026 WJC after being hit in the back of the head by a puck in a 2-1 win against Switzerland in the preliminary round, but returned for the quarterfinals and had a goal and an assist in a 4-3 overtime loss to Finland. He finished with four points (one goal, three assists) in three games.

While playing for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 Team, Hutson had 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists) in 51 games and set an NTDP single-season record for points by a defenseman with 68 (10 goals, 58 assists) in 61 games. He won gold at the 2023 IIHF Under-18 World Championship and silver the following year, when he was named Best Defenseman after leading his position in goals (four), assists (nine) and points (13). He left the NTDP first all-time among defensemen with 119 points (25 goals, 94 assists) in 112 games over two seasons.