Hutton reveals vision problem affected season with Sabres: report

Carter Hutton said he expects to play better for the Buffalo Sabres next season after the goalie was diagnosed with a vision problem in the middle of this season.

The 34-year-old had convergence insufficiency, which caused his left eye to move slower than his right eye and impacted his ability to track the puck, The Buffalo News reported Monday.

"[Therapy] became part of my daily routine," he said. "I would do a ton of different eye training and things to get better at that. In the moment it was obviously tough. Now, moving forward, I learned a lot of skills to help improve that area and make my eye strength better and work on stuff. We weren't sure what it was. It was something I managed throughout the season."

Hutton went 12-14-4 with a 3.18 goals-against average and .898 save percentage in 31 games (30 starts) in his second season with the Sabres, including 0-8-4 with a 4.04 GAA and .872 save percentage from Oct. 24-Jan. 30. He said his vision "started to come back around big time" in mid-January after being diagnosed in November.

Hutton, who has one season remaining on a three-year contract, rebounded in February and March, going 6-6-0 with a 3.07 GAA and .902 save percentage in his final 12 games before the NHL paused the season March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. He said he intends to continue with the eye exercises despite having recovered from the condition.

"I'll get back to doing what I do best," Hutton said. "I've played in the League for a long time. I didn't just forget how to play. I had a rough go with some stuff, and we'll get back to it."

Buffalo (30-31-8, .493 points percentage) will not make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the ninth straight season, the longest drought in the NHL. It was not among the 24 teams to make the Stanley Cup Qualifiers when the NHL announced its Return to Play Plan on May 26.