Michael Hutchinson’s run in pro hockey is over.
The former Colorado Avalanche goalie announced his retirement on Tuesday, closing the book on a career that stretched across several NHL stops and included one especially memorable playoff chapter in Denver.
Hutchinson, 36, spent part of the 2019-20 season with the Avalanche and went 1-0-0 in regular-season action for the club. Over the course of his career, he finished 57-62-18 and also appeared for the Winnipeg Jets, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Columbus Blue Jackets, and most recently made one start for the Detroit Red Wings in the 2023-24 season.
Born in Barrie, Ontario, Hutchinson also logged four playoff appearances and three starts. His biggest impact came during Colorado’s 2020 late-summer Stanley Cup Playoffs run inside the COVID bubble, when injuries forced him into a far bigger role than anyone expected.
The Avalanche had already lost Philipp Grubauer and Pavel Francouz, and Hutchinson was thrust into action in the second round against the Dallas Stars. He made his playoff debut in relief while Colorado trailed the series 2-1 and was down 5-2 in Game 4. Vladislav Namestnikov and Valeri Nichushkin scored late, but the Avalanche still dropped that game 5-4.
With elimination looming in Game 5, Hutchinson got the start. He turned aside 31 of 34 shots in a 6-3 Colorado win, with the Avalanche pouring in five goals in the first period.
He was even sharper in Game 6, stopping 27 shots and allowing just one goal in a 4-1 victory that pushed the series to a decisive Game 7. Colorado carried leads of 2-1, 3-2, and 4-3 before Joel Kiviranta tied it with 3:40 left in regulation, then finished off the infamous Kiviranta playoff hat trick in overtime to send the Avalanche home.
For a goalie who was suddenly asked to carry the load, Hutchinson handled it well. He went 2-1 in three starts with a .910 save percentage on 100 shots. He is one of 14 goalies to ever win a playoff game for the Avalanche and one of 12 to win multiple games.
Colorado acquired Hutchinson ahead of the 2020 trade deadline for Calle Rosen, who returned to the Toronto Maple Leafs after initially being included in the previous summer trade that brought Nazem Kadri to Colorado.
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