Brandon Sutter Announces Retirement After 13 NHL Seasons

Forward Brandon Sutter retires from the NHL after a 770-game career and an attempted comeback with the Edmonton Oilers following a two-year absence.

Forward Brandon Sutter decided it is time to retire from the NHL after 13 seasons.

Sutter, 34, attempted a comeback to the NHL after missing the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons due to symptoms of long-COVID. He joined the Edmonton Oilers on a professional tryout, recording one assist in three pre-season contests, but the team released him on Sunday.

The Carolina Hurricanes drafted the Huntington, N.Y., native 11th overall back in the 2007 NHL draft. After a four-year major junior career with the WHL's Red Deer Rebels with his father, Brent Sutter, as the coach and GM, Sutter spent four seasons with the Canes and AHL Albany River Rats. Carolina then traded him in 2012 to the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of the move that turned Jordan Staal into a member of the Hurricanes.

After three campaigns in Pittsburgh, the Penguins traded Sutter to the Vancouver Canucks in 2015. He then recorded 34 points, the most in a season since his 40 in his sophomore year, and averaged a career-high 18:48 of ice time per game in 2016-17. Sutter spent parts of six seasons playing for the Canucks. Off the ice, he's been a longtime ambassador for Special Olympics BC and attended various events, including the Sports Celebrities Festival in Vancouver.

Sutter finishes his hockey career with 770 NHL regular-season games, 153 goals, 137 assists and 289 points. He also put up 18 points in 50 playoff games split between the Penguins and Canucks.

In a statement, Sutter said he is grateful for the opportunity GM Ken Holland and the Oilers gave him. 

"You need to be 100-percent healthy to compete in the NHL, and although my health continues to improve, in consideration of my health and family, I am officially retiring from hockey," Sutter said. "Thank you to the Oilers, Canucks, Penguins and Hurricanes, as well as all my past coaches, trainers and teammates for the incredible experiences throughout my 13 seasons in the NHL."