Brandon Sutter announces retirement from NHL after Oilers release veteran from PTO

Edmonton: The National Hockey League has announced Brandon Sutter’s retirement.

The declaration was released by the 34-year-old forward via a statement issued by the Edmonton Oilers, with whom he had signed a professional tryout contract on August 28.

In a statement on Sunday, Edmonton stated that Sutter had been freed from the PTO. The six-foot-three, 188-pound Sutter played in two Oilers preseason games and recorded one assist.

After being selected by the Carolina Hurricanes with the 11th overall pick in 2007, the New York native played four seasons there before joining the Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks.

Due to long-term COVID-19 symptoms, Sutter did not play for the Canucks in 2021–2022, and the team did not retain him for 2022–2023.

Over the course of 13 NHL seasons, Sutter played in 770 games, scoring 289 points (152 goals, 137 assists), and racking up 149 penalty minutes.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity that (general manager) Ken (Holland), (head coach) Jay (Woodcroft), and the Oilers organization have provided to me the past few weeks,” he said in a statement. “You have to be completely healthy to play in the NHL, and even if things are getting better, I’m formally retiring from hockey to take care of my family and myself.

“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.”