The 36-year-old goalie was 0-2-0 in three games for the Arizona Coyotes this season. His last start was a 5-3 loss at the Florida Panthers on Oct. 25, when he saved 10 of 11 shots before leaving after the first period because of what he said after the season was an ankle injury.
"[It] made the decision a lot easier for me," Hutton told the Chronicle Journal on Tuesday. "It restricted a lot of the mobility I needed to be as effective as I once was. This, compiled with a few other things, helped me decide on retirement."
Signed by the San Jose Sharks as an undrafted free agent June 1, 2010, Hutton was 94-90-27 with a 2.76 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and 13 shutouts in 235 regular-season games (207 starts) for the Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks. He was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for future considerations Feb. 21.
His best season was with the Blues in 2017-18, when he was 17-7-3 and led goalies with a 2.09 GAA and .931 save percentage (minimum, 20 starts), and had three shutouts in 32 games (26 starts).
Hutton never started in the Stanley Cup Playoffs but appeared in relief in three games with the Predators in 2016.
"Honestly, I've been preparing myself for hockey to be over in some aspect for a while," Hutton said. "The NHL has evolved into a young man's league. The average age in the league is now in the early 20s, so I knew that this job wouldn't be a lifelong one for me."
