Michael Hutchinson’s run in professional hockey has come to an end.
The Winnipeg Jets announced that the former Boston Bruins prospect has retired after 11 NHL seasons, closing the book on a career that started with a third-round selection by Boston in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Hutchinson went 77th overall and spent his early pro years in the Bruins organization before eventually carving out his NHL career elsewhere.
The Barrie, Ontario native played his first three AHL seasons with the Providence Bruins from 2010-11 through 2012-13. In 87 games with Providence, he showed real promise, and his best stretch came in 2011-12 when he posted a .927 save percentage in 29 appearances.
Even with that strong start in the minors, Hutchinson never got into an NHL game with Boston. The Bruins’ goaltending depth kept that door closed, and after leaving the organization in the 2013 NHL off-season and signing with Winnipeg, he finally reached the league’s top level.
Hutchinson found plenty of success with the Jets. Over 102 games with Winnipeg, he put together a 43-39-11 record with a .910 save percentage and a 2.65 goals-against average.
After his time in Winnipeg, Hutchinson’s role shifted. He became more of a third goalie and spent time back in the AHL, while also bouncing through several NHL stops. Across 154 career NHL games over 11 seasons with the Jets, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Detroit Red Wings, he finished with a 57-62-18 record, a .902 save percentage, and a 2.94 goals-against average.
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The appeal is obvious when the names under consideration have recent NHL track records that suggest there is something left to work with. Boston can use more scoring punch on the wing, more stability on the blue line and more depth up front, which is why this kind of camp flyer has some intrigue even before the first puck drops. The question is whether the Bruins see enough upside in any of these options to bring one into camp and let the competition sort it out. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Still Have One Offseason Question Fans Cannot Ignore
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For a team trying to balance immediate help with limited risk, the remaining free-agent market offers a few names worth monitoring. Vladimir Tarasenko, Michael Bunting and Eeli Tolvanen all fit the kind of low-cost swing that can either deepen the forward group or quietly become one of the smarter additions of the summer, and the Bruins still have to decide whether one more move is enough to round out the picture. [Read more 🡒]
